Our Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13-35
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 the bread.
Image: express.co.uk
I like to think that the story of the two disciples walking to Emmaus is written especially for us. Of course the whole Gospel story is for us, but there is something about this incident that arcs across 2,000 years to speak to the reality of the Christian community in the 21st century.
A number of scholars believe that the town referred to was some sort of Roman spa resort, a place where people went to relax and forget their troubles for a while. The two were walking away from Jerusalem, which, for Luke, was the place of promise and fulfilment, their hopes and dreams shattered by the execution of the one whom they believed was the Messiah.
It is possible that in the Lucan community the questions of Jesus’ presence/absence, the place of the Eucharistic meal, of the ‘how’ he was still with them, were becoming serious theological issues. Likewise, was the inability of some to integrate the crucifixion into their understanding of Jesus and their vision of God.
These two were walking away from community – and from pain, sorrow and even despair - because it was no longer seen to fulfil their own expectations.
C.S. Lewis once wrote that, after the death of his beloved wife, and to ease his grieving, he deliberately avoided the places they had frequented together. Later he realised that these were the places he needed to go back to if his life was to move forward.
In a similar fashion it was on this road to Emmaus that the two disciples’ lives were changed forever and their dilemma resolved in a way beyond wildest imaginings. They literally turn around, we are told, and head back to Jerusalem. And it all took place in a small, nameless, roadside inn, during a simple, nameless meal, with a nameless person they just ‘happened’ to meet!
This story paints a picture that provides much to ponder and contemplate. And it asks questions that demand answers!
Where are our Roads to Emmaus today?
What if the places and persons that gave joy and then caused so much pain were also the invitations to participate in making visible the reign of God?
What if the urgent questions of today - peace, justice, war, the marginalised, racism, environmental degradation, greed, political and military power mongering - were invitations for our eyes to be opened, and for us to meet and be transformed by the risen Christ?
How does this occur in the context of the Centenary of WW1?
Prayer
Violence never again!
War never again!
Terrorism never again!
In God's name,
may all religions bring upon earth
justice and peace, forgiveness, life and love!
Pope John Paul II – 24.2.2002
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