Our Emmaus Experiences

The Gospel reading of the 3^rd Sunday of Easter (Year A) invites us to reflect on our faith journey (Luke 24:13-35). We join the two disciples walking towards Emmaus and come to appreciate how to deal with spiritual discouragement and hopelessness. Circumstances sometimes weigh us down with confusion and despair coming from unfulfilled expectations. But, with a better understanding of the happenings, we can grasp the meaning and the bigger picture of a seemingly unfortunate turn of events. So, we turn to each other for comfort, understanding, clarity, and just sharing….; but the more we discuss the matter, the more unlikely we feel any better.

Our Search For Truth

It is quite possible that in searching for what we think is the truth, we can easily exchange the truth of God for falsehoods and end up worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator (cf. Romans 1:25). This is why we must be careful in our search for truth. Some truth is always readily available to all people. Still, some suppress the truth of God’s existence by closing their eyes and allowing satan to aid them along the wrong way (cf. Romans 1:20). Our choices alter our beliefs so much that we can no longer see what we saw before. It must have been like this for Cleopas and his companion (PS: St Luke does not name this disciple because that could be you, maybe me…), who chose an alternate narrative to the Messianic Mission. Nevertheless, their encounter with Christ on the way to Emmaus helps us learn a few things that we may apply to our unfortunate situations.

Hopelessness Clouds Our Vision

On the third day, testimonies about the empty tomb, the angelic revelation, and the physical encounter with the risen Lord were given. However, the disciples still needed to understand and believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This is the trouble with discussing disturbing events with a dispirited person – you will likely be even more discouraged. Perhaps this was what made Cleopas leave for Emmaus. Unfortunately, his travel companion was none the better. Neither remembered the Lord’s assurance to His disciples that where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matthew 18:20). These two, who, according to St. Luke, were together because of events surrounding the Lord’s death (vs 14). But when the Lord Himself came and walked along with them, they failed to recognise Him (vs 16) because they were too engrossed in bantering ideas back and forth and with great emotion in their search for answers. Not a strange thing because it happens every so often to me, too. I don’t know how to stop and take in my surroundings to experience the Lord’s presence.

The Lord Accompanies Us on the Way

When the Lord finally drew their attention and enquired about the distress, their world came to a standstill, and their demeanour was nothing but sadness (vs 17). The Light of the world engages with them. Still, they are unfortunately deeply engulfed in total spiritual darkness that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). We often look at only the negative side of being spiritually blind. But in the wisdom of King Solomon, we learn that as the only omnipotent, omniscient, and perfect Creator, the Lord God is entirely justified to choose what, when and how to reveal a matter. Yet, as limited people, we must seek understanding within our limitations.

It Is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)

Cleopas is the first to recompose himself but manages only to highlight their confusion concerning Jesus’ Messianic Mission with an ironic question (vs 18). I wonder if, later on, Cleopas reflected on this encounter where he asked the Lord if He was the only stranger in Jerusalem who did not know about the crucifixion. Interestingly, the Lord’s response is inquisitive (vs 19). At this point, I wonder if this is one of those times when the Lord silently laughs at our folly…I mean, He asks about things that He knows pretty well; after all, He lived these things.

Nonetheless, the ever-patient Master desires that His disciples state their problems to Him as directly as possible so that He might solve them most perfectly and objectively. And so, Cleopas and his companion recounted the event in as much detail as possible, according to how they understood it and what they anticipated (Vs 19-24). They spoke about He, whom they not only loved affectionately as their Master and Leader but also saw as the promised Messiah. They expected Him to assert His Messiahship with power and establish the Messianic kingdom. They hoped He would prove to be Deliverer and Savior to redeem Israel. Instead, the chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the death sentence and had Him crucified. His followers were left struggling between hope and fear raging in their hearts. Then there were those confusing claims concerning the empty tomb, visible angels, and the resurrection, which some of them went to the tomb and witnessed, but they did not see Him…. (OK, take a breath!)

Only The Lord Enlightens Us

Having heard enough of the whining, the Lord first reprimands them for failure to believe the Messianic message of the prophets of old – the answers all along lay in Scripture. When the Lord disappoints us, we must pray for divine enlightenment to fully understand the Biblical record and the power and wisdom of God. So, these disciples understood the prediction of the glory of the Messiah but could not take to heart the prophecies that indicated the darker aspect of His Mission? They failed to allow Scripture to influence their thinking and behaviour. We should not confuse our expectations with God’s offer of hope. The disciples were slow to believe the prophecies about the sufferings, instead preferring to focus only on the ones about glorification. Yet, it was all on record.

But more is needed to know the content of the scriptures; we must accept its message as truth. Then we will see God’s ultimate purpose in the sovereign plan. And all Scripture is profitable. Therefore, we cannot selectively apply it. We should instead strive for a broad understanding of its teaching so that we do not end up in unbelief and depression. Then we would be full of joy. The lesson was that Christ’s passion was not a possibility but a necessity. It was not dependent on circumstances; it had to happen. Calvary was inevitable. Christ had to suffer and enter His glory (vs 26). The deep love of God defeats sin. The sufferings of Christ would bring about the triumphs of God (vs 27).

The Lord’s Teaching Deeply Impacts

Although St. Luke does not directly share how the two responded to the Lord’s teaching, we hear them describe their hearts burning within as the Lord spoke and explained the scriptures to them (vs 32). This makes me think of myself. In the Liturgy of the Word…do I experience a burning in the heart when I hear the Word of God? Do I open myself up to the Holy Spirit so that He ignites the fire of the word of God in my heart? Do I enter into communion with Him so that I am attentive to His explanations? Does my heartbreak become heartburn when I hear the Word?

Opportunity Comes Knocking

The two were blessed to be with the Lord Jesus. Therefore, as they approached the village where they were going and Jesus acted like He was going further, they sensed that the opportunity to fellowship with Him could pass them by (vs 28). So, they urged Him strongly to stay with them for the evening and night (vs 29). Considering my Bible Study habits…do I end my encounters with the Word too early, or do I urge Him to stay with me longer? I wonder how often I have forfeited the inexpressible privilege of discovering the Risen Lord in the readings, homilies, or teachings of Scripture. Does my heart yearn for more, or does the mind overrule and vote for short Scripture readings, sermons and teachings?

Now I know that being open to the power of the Holy Spirit ignites the fire of God’s word in my heart and produces the joy, exhilaration and thrill that the comprehension of Scripture brings a taste of eternal salvation. Therefore, I must learn to seize and realise such opportunities by urging Him to stay with me. Because now I know that when I ask, He will come in and stay with me (vs 29). Yes, He promised to come and make His home in us (John 14:23), and He holds our right hand and tells us not to fear because He will help us (Isaiah 41:13). Imagine the blessing of truly seeing Jesus and having genuine fellowship with Him. Imagine the Lord hosting you in your own home, not waiting to be served by you, but instead serving you eternal food (vs 30)…. Need I say more?

The Resurrection is Confirmed

Truly seeing the Lord Jesus and physically confirming the Resurrection jolted the disciples with strengthened faith, renewed hope, and deepened love for the Risen Lord. The revelation in breaking the bread meant that His physical presence was now not necessary, so He vanished from their sight (vs 31). What joy it is when our eyes open and we recognize Him (for me, it is in the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament); disappointment and disillusionment give way to joy and hope. The Lord does not fail us. He defeated death on the Cross. In the Resurrection, He entered a new state where He appeared and disappeared at will. Just like He left the sealed tomb, he also left the closed house; and so did He enter the place where the eleven were gathered (Luke 24:36 & John 20:19).

From Desertion to Evangelization

Now that they were no longer in spiritual darkness, they knew that the expected Messiah lived as the promised Redeemer. They had an irresistible urge to go and share this light and joy of knowing this with the others, so they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. The blessing of divine spiritual illumination with the exposition of Scripture moved them to immediate action (vs 33). Those who had earlier left Jerusalem returned in the middle of the night to bear witness to the Resurrection. They described in detail all that had happened on their journey and how the Lord Jesus had made Himself known to them by breaking the bread (vs 35).

Take-Home Message

The beginning of the letter to the Hebrews teaches that The Lord Jesus Christ is the latest part of God’s continuous, consistent message (cf. Hebrews 1:1-4). Whereas in the past, the Lord God spoke in many and various ways by the prophets, in these last days, He speaks to us by a Son. The Lord God created all the worlds through this Jesus, whom He appointed heir of all things. This Jesus reflects God’s glory and is the exact imprint of God’s very being. He sustains all things with his powerful word. His death on the Cross made purification for sins. His resurrection signified His glorious life. He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having inherited a more excellent name. The Lord God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name above every name (Ephesians 1:20-21). At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, be they in heaven on earth or under the earth to the highest. At this Name, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and all this is to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

*NB: All Bible quotations are from NASB Version