Today we have the wonderful and consoling appearance of Jesus to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. These disciples had left Jerusalem discouraged because this is the third day since their hopes had been destroyed by the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth whom they had seen as a prophet before God and all the people. They had even been there when the women reported that the tomb was empty and maybe they had even been there themselves as the Gospel tells us "some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women described, but him they did not see."
Then Jesus says: "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! ..." And then Jesus began to interpret the scriptures to them. As they approach the village to which they were going, Jesus 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 Jesus goes in with them and "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. However, they had new energy and set out to return to Jerusalem to tell the others how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The whole story gives us so much to reflect on as Jesus still comes to us and perhaps we do not recognize him until we break bread with Him in the Eucharist and realize that He is truly with us.
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