Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - Octave of Easter - Wed
[Acts 3:1-10 and Luke 24:13-35]And [Jesus] 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 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." And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and fave 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?" [Luke]
The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus is a truly wonderful work of art that describes for a later audience all the story of Jesus in a nutshell. It also describes the task of those who hear this story. The discouragement of the two disciples in the face of Jesus' death and their amazement at hearing of his resurrection are very real. But it took Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to them to complete the process. The subsequent preaching about Jesus would focus on scriptural foundations which would lead to celebration of his presence in the breaking of the bread.
For a preacher like me, the "opening of the scriptures," is of paramount importance because it leads to the celebration. The foundation of the eucharistic celebration is in God's Word. Sadly, in my itinerant ministry, I visit all too many parishes where the preaching results not in "burning hearts" but in heartburn! This is where all of us who are baptized in Christ find our task. We can open the scriptures for others and tell them the story. We don't need to have a degree in scripture. A good study Bible, of course, will help in this process. It is what others hear about Jesus in God's Word that will lead them to say to him, "Stay with us!" The excitement of the two pilgrims helped the other disciples back in Jerusalem to understand. We can all do what the final words of the story say, "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." AMEN