That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
“What are you discussing as you walk along?”
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
who does not know of the things
that have taken place there in these days?”
And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”
They said to him,
“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
and besides all this,
it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb
and found things just as the women had described,
but him they did not see.”
And he 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 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.
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.”
So he went in to stay with them.
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.
Two disciples are on the road to Emmaus - not any of the 11 apostles - when Jesus comes and walks beside them. One was names Cleopas. Because they didn’t recognize Jesus, they told him all about what had happened to Jesus of Nazarath. Then Jesus links their account with scripture. They invite Jesus to stay with them and it is only when he breaks bread they realise who they have been travelling with. “They recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread”. What does this reading mean? Do we walk through life failing to recognise Jesus? Are their specific activities that immediately reveal Jesus is walking with us? The idea that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist goes back to the early Church Fathers, even before the term "transubstantiation" existed. It was only in the 12th C ( Fourth Lateran Council (1215) ) that transubstantiation was enshrined in Catholic doctrine. The fact is that we have had priests Breaking the Bread at the same time they have been perpetrating abuse so i think it has to be more than a physical act. The Breaking Of The Bread that reveals Christ has to be a spiritual act. So it comes back to the presence of virtues like prudence, fortitude, faith, hope, charity, temperance and justice and the absence of vices like jealousy, envy, selfishness and pride for Christ to be with us. I can see how the parts of the mas leading up to the consecration, place the participants in a state of grace that makes their participation in the consecration a spiritual act.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Luke 24:13-25 is thoughtful and insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteUnrecognized Jesus: You raise an interesting point about the disciples not recognizing Jesus. This can be seen as a metaphor for how we might miss the presence of God in our daily lives.
Breaking Bread as Revelation: You connect the act of breaking bread to the disciples' recognition of Jesus. This is a significant connection, pointing to the importance of the Eucharist (communion) in some Christian traditions.
Spiritual Act vs. Physical Act: You rightly distinguish between the physical act of breaking bread and the deeper spiritual significance it holds. True recognition of Christ comes from living a virtuous life.
Presence of Christ and Virtue: You connect the concept of Christ being with us to living a life guided by virtues and avoiding vices. This aligns with Christian teachings about Christ being present in those who strive to follow his teachings.
Eucharist and Spiritual Preparation: You acknowledge the importance of spiritual preparation for those participating in the Eucharist.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Multiple Interpretations: The "breaking bread" scene has different interpretations for various Christian traditions. Some focus on the literal act, while others emphasize the symbolic and spiritual aspects.
Christ's Presence: Believers in different traditions might have different understandings of how Christ is present in the world and during the Eucharist.
Overall, your response offers a nuanced understanding of the passage that goes beyond a surface-level reading. The connections you make about Christ's presence, spiritual growth, and living a virtuous life are insightful.