3rd Sunday of Easter
This section is proper to Luke only. The two are not leaders in the community but represent all followers of Jesus. Mark 16:12-13, has a very scanty version of the story: "After this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe them either. Lastly, he showed himself to the eleven themselves while they were at table." Emmaus is not mentioned here.
In fact the Emmaus Story is the story of a journey from deep despair to enthusiastic hope, from defeat to victory, from fear to bold conviction. Why were the two going to Emmaus? They were running away from Jerusalem, having, we presume, been expelled from Judaism and its religion. They were mourning the death of their hero. More than a hero: he was a prophet mighty in deed and in word. In fact they had hoped he would be the one to set Israel free. {This was one of the factors the prevented them from recognising him. They had false expectations. Jesus will not be recognised if we hold fast to our own expectations of him. We must allow him question us, not we question him.}
At every point of the disciples' journey there are psychological observations. The disciples, he tells us, "were deeply distressed." They stop, "looking sad." They are surprised at the ignorance of their fellow traveller who has just joined them. They urge him to stay with them.
They report to the stranger what the women had reported to them. The body was missing; angels had told them he was alive. But of him they saw nothing. He proceeds to explain the scriptures to them, the Old Testament drawing attention in particular to texts that referred to himself. But still no recognition dawns. Despite the fact that the Risen Christ preaches to them in person, they are still incapable of belief. The disciples then invite him in for a meal. Why? Had a confused hope arisen within then concerning this stranger which they wished to have clarified? Or did they wish to go deeper into a recollection which was obviously so dear to them? Luke does not tell us why they invited the stranger in. But he shows us reliving in flash-back the emotion which had seized them on the road.
It is only when he sat at table with them, took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them, that their eyes were opened and they recognised him. Immediately, he vanishes from their sight. {The implication here is that the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus renders his bodily presence unnecessary, indeed superfluous.} Then an excited discussion develops between the two. They trace back their journey, as anyone would do in similar circumstances. "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" Weren't we awful fools not to have recognised him!! This was so characteristic of the Christ we knew! But belief in the resurrection needs something more than the preaching of Scriptures, even if the preacher is Christ himself. It is the Eucharist which leads them to full faith.
They had left Jerusalem in the morning despondent, fearful, and hopeless. They return to Jerusalem that same hour, immediately. The immediately seek out the Eleven who are already aware of the Resurrection. "Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread."
In his adaptation of a primitive narrative, Luke gave his readers a deeper understanding of the way to faith and recognition. The word and the bread are the two banquets to which human beings are invited in every age. Before everything else, the Lord must interpret the Scriptures, which then become meaningful. It is no use having known the Lord in his earthly life; yet it seems that the two disciples were privileged in their relationship with him. But neither the history of their nation, on which their hopes were fed, nor the amazing information from the women concerning the empty tomb, aroused faith in them. To overcome the obstacles which make it difficult to see clearly, it is of course necessary to listen to the scriptures as interpreted in and through Christ. But, though the heart may burn within, recognition takes place only in the breaking of bread. Only a personal encounter with the Risen Christ, according to Luke, can arouse faith.