A Unique Encounter with Christ
In short, on the third day after His crucifixion two disciples were leaving Jerusalem traveling to Emmaus. Along the way they were discussing what had taken place the last few days when Jesus came to them and asked what they were discussing. Blocked from recognizing Him, the disciples told the traveler about what had took place. Upon hearing their despair, Christ uplifts them and teaches them why these things had to happen to the Messiah. They were so stirred at His interpretation of the Scriptures that they later noted, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" (Lk 24:) Even with the Holy Spirit enkindled within them, Jesus' preaching to them did not open their eyes to who the travel's identity. Remember, these are people who would have spent the last three years following Him and listening to His preaching..The traveler's identity did not become revealed to them until they sat and ate supper with Him at which point Luke states, "He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them." (Lk 24) These are the same words that Luke uses to describe what happened at the Last Supper. Jesus gave them Himself under the appearance of the bread. It was at that exact moment that the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist.Luke’s account is pivotal to this meditation because it illustrates the fact that Jesus is present in the preaching of the Gospel because their hearts were aflame when they heard it. However in a far more vivid and eye opening manner, Christ is present in the Eucharist, the breaking of the bread as Luke calls it. Not even the preaching of the Lord Himself open their eyes; it was receiving Christ’s own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity that they recognized as Him in it.Why, then, did Jesus vanish from their site when they recognized Him in the Eucharist? Jesus is opening the eyes to the reality that He will be with them also but in a new way. They will not have Him walking and talking with as He had the past three years. Indeed, He was going to be with them in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist. It was only celebrating this great gift that the whole Christ (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) will be present.
Thanks be to God.....
