Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 - Octave of Easter - Wed
[Acts 3:1-10 and Luke 24:13-35]"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. [Luke]
When one sets out to tell an important story about a real event nearly forty years after that event, relying only on oral and maybe a few written resources, the later results of the earlier events make their way into the story. In the Gospel According to John, the contemporary antagonism between Jews who accepted Jesus and those who did not appears throughout the text. In the Gospel According to Matthew, the concern of Jewish Christians about the status of the Mosaic Law in the light of the resurrection shows through. The Gospel According to Luke was written to encourage missionaries encountering persecution, reminding them that the resurrection of Jesus was a real event and that this event is being lived through the Word of Life (the scriptures) and the Bread of Life (the breaking of bread).
The discouragement of the disciples on the road to Emmaus reflects the initial response of many of Jesus' followers after his death and resurrection. The latter seemed too hard to accept. It was only through knowing the scriptures and the life of Jesus himself as the fulfillment of those scriptures that disciples come to faith in the Risen Lord.
One of the possibly positive side-effects of the current COVID-19 coronavirus could be a renewed turn to the Word of Life since the Bread of Life is not immediately available except by "spiritual communion." The Second Vatican Council reminded us that Christ is truly present in his Word. The Mass has two parts, and neither is more important than the other. But at this time, we are at least physically deprived of the second part, but not the first part, the Liturgy of the Word. Remembering Jesus' words to those two disciples on the Road to Emmaus might help us: "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! What is 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." I pray that we can all find nourishment in the Scriptures during this difficult time. AMEN