On Easter Sunday we heard from Mark. Last Sunday we heard from John. This Sunday we hear from Luke with another account of an encounter with the risen Lord on that first Easter Sunday. This Sunday’s Gospel begins with the two disciples who had encountered the risen Lord on the way to Emmaus recounting their experience to the other disciples. It is in the midst of their retelling, the risen Lord appears again to all present in that place.
The story of the road to Emmaus involved the two disciples making a day’s journey to the town of Emmaus outside of Jerusalem. During the journey, the risen Lord joins them on the way but they fail to recognize him for who he is. After they recount for him the events of the previous days, he recounts for them how all that had taken place was necessary as foretold by the Scriptures. When they come to Emmaus, it is the end of the day yet the Lord appears to be going on further. The disciples invite him to stay with them. When they sit down to eat, the Lord breaks bread and in that moment they recognize him for who he is, he vanishes, and they then race back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. Today’s Gospel takes up at this point.
Luke recounts for us many of the same details in this appearance that are also recounted by the other Gospel writers: that the disciples were fearful, unbelieving, and that the Lord explained for them, again, all that the Scriptures foretold about him. This Sunday’s Gospel, as well as the story of Emmaus, gives us some important take-aways.
First, both with the disciples journeying to Emmaus or those locked away in the upper room, the Lord draws near to them. He comes to them where they are: in their disbelief, their grief, and their suffering. Just because they do not recognize him does not mean that he is any less present to them. The same is true for us. Just because we do not recognize God’s presence among us does not mean that he is not in our midst.
Second, Jesus does not just appear to the disciples and say “here I am so just believe.” No, he takes the time to openly lead them once again through the Scriptures that pointed to his death and resurrection. Like the disciples, Jesus helps us to put the pieces of life together, to bring clarity to the mysteries that surround us. This is why a living faith, a real relationship with Christ is vital. Jesus helps us to make sense out of the world we live in or to at least at times see things from the perspective of “I don’t get it, but I trust in you, Lord.”
Third, he again commissions his disciples to be his witnesses because of what they have experienced and have come to know; it is the same for us. Again, our lives need to be a witness to the risen Lord and the difference that he makes in our lives; our lives also need to be an invitation to others to greater life in the Lord.
The Resurrection is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new chapter that calls us to mission with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the appearance following the Resurrection, the Lord makes it clear that he is counting on us to be his witnesses to the world. May we have the grace to experience the love of the risen Lord in such a way that we are not able to keep the joy of the experience to ourselves.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House