Luke 24:13–35
Now on that same day two of them were going to a
village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about
all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing,
Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from
recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other
while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose
name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that
have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They
replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders
handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped
that he was the one to redeem Israel.
Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.
Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early
this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and
told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was
alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the
women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how
foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and
then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he
interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they
came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were
going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is
almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with
them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and
he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts
burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening
the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found
the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord
has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had
happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of
the bread.
Commentary
Today’s
reading is another gospel narrative about Easter morning. It is also a story about our Easter
journey. It begins with our limited
human understanding about God and ends with wisdom of God gained from personal
teaching of Jesus.
At the
beginning of the gospel, the two disciples leave Jerusalem to a village seven miles away. We are not told what they would do in the
village and why they go to that particular village. One thing is for sure that they knew
something about the village. Probably
they had stayed in there before. Having
seen their master died in Jerusalem,
they might loss faith in their ministry and looked for comfort to go back to
the old days and old ways of living.
Note how
their energy is wasted on their talking with each other
about all these things that had happened in Jerusalem. We simply behave like them without much
difference. It seems to us that talking
in such a way would help relieve our pain and disappointment. In fact it would drain our positive energy
away from us. We would be in the mood of
not thinking positively, thus leaving us with no hope. But on the other hand, we do need such talks
to acknowledge our sadness and disappointment.
The problem is that we don’t know how to get out of such a terrible
situation.
Jesus
knows how to help us. He comes closer to
them and walks by their side. He asks
them: “What are you discussing with each other while
you walk along?” This question helps the two disciples organize
their thought and articulate it as a narrator telling a narrative to others who
knows nothing about the story. Such a
move helps the two disciples to clear their minds and focus on what had
happened instead of their feelings.
The next
step that Jesus takes is to listen to them attentively so to allow them to come
out from their obsession of the sad event.
He listens with care and love. He
does not interrupt them but allows them to finish. He does not judge what they have to say but
with critical ears and heart. Once they
finish their story, Jesus takes the turn to turn their monologue into dialogue
by showing them the things about himself in all the
scriptures. As he teaches, the two disciples begin to make
sense of what they had witnessed in Jerusalem.
However,
they still do not know who he is at this moment until they come to the dinner
table when he breaks the bread. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he
vanished from their sight. They got up immediately and go back
to Jerusalem to
share the good news with their community.
Now they go to tell the community a different story, one that is very
opposite from the one that begins at the gospel. It begins with desolation but ends with
consolation. Can I share the joy of our
Risen Lord? Or am I still in lamentation
of his dead on Good Friday? May Jesus
come and teach me in person. Amen.