Third Sunday of Easter, 23rd April 2023

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.