This week we hear the story of Jesus meeting two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. These two disciples don't recognise Jesus at first which is hard to understand as they would have spent a lot of time together before he died.
These disciples welcome Jesus to stay with them, still not knowing that it is him. It is not until Jesus breaks bread and says a blessing that their eyes were opened and they truly recognised. This simple act of breaking bread that we do each Sunday at mass opens the eyes of these disciples.
Even though we cannot physically share in this breaking of bread at church let us remain open to seeing where Jesus might be walking with us in our daily lives.
Scripture Reading:
Gospel | LK 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
Summary Video
Think About
1. Events in our lives may leave us trying to answer the question “Why?” Pretend that you were one of the two disciples talking over troubling events or dashed hopes in your life. What would you be talking about today that has thrown you into confusion?
2. If you were one of the disciples on the road talking with Jesus right now, what would you still want to ask him?
3. What does the conversation on the Road to Emmaus teach you about God and his involvement in your daily life?
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
We thank you for your love.
We give you praise for all the moments you reveal yourself to us.
Today we ask that you give us the courage to see you everyday.
We pray for our world and all those who may not be able to see you.
Help those who are in need.
Walk with us now and always.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Activities
