Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - Octave of Easter - Wed
[Acts 3:1-10 and 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?" [Luke]
The 24th chapter of the Gospel According to Luke is a masterful piece of weaving the story of Jesus with the post-resurrection experience of the community for whom Luke was writing. It serves, too, as a bridge to the second volume, as it were, of the gospel, which we call the Acts of the Apostles. I recommend a good study bible to help with identifying all the strands that have been woven together. For me, as a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), the encounter between Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a challenge to be faithful to the task of "opening the scriptures" that takes place before the breaking of the bread. All too often, and sadly, the former is poorly done and the people are left half-fed!
Jesus appears to exercise a bit of "tough love" with the two disciples: "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" No doubt that got their attention! "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures." The recognition of Jesus in the breaking of the bread rests on what he has told them of himself. Every celebration of the Eucharist is meant to repeat this experience. God's word is essential to this. St. Paul says it well: "How can they believe in one of whom they have never heard?" [Romans 10:14]. We are those disciples on the road to Emmaus. Does Jesus remain a stranger to us? AMEN