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| JESUS BEING INVITED BY HIS DISCIPLES TO STAY WITH THEM WITHOUT RECOGNIZING HIM. Image from en.wikipedia.org via google.com |
And it happened,
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?"
- Luke 24: 30-32
Two disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus, a town some seven kilometers away from Jerusalem, while discussing the events that took place during the weekend including the discovery of the empty tomb. And yet they still did not understand what the sacrifice of the Lord meant and what the empty tomb stands for. They were still overcome by their sadness of what happened to Him.
So when He appeared to them, they did not recognize Him. They even wondered why, thinking that He was just another pilgrim to Jerusalem, He seem to have no knowledge about the recent events when He asked them what they were discussing as they walk. But then He explained to them everything that the Scriptures have laid out long ago about why the recent events should have taken place. Still they did not recognize Him, but they did appreciate the lessons from Scriptures that when He acted as if going further when they arrived in Emmaus, they invited Him to stay with them. And then it happened: when he broke the bread, said the blessing and gave them pieces of it, they recognized Him, perhaps recalling the multiplication of bread!
Here we see the two important and major parts of the liturgical celebration which we call the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, also known as the Eucharistic celebration, Holy Communion, and more: First, the Liturgy of the Word, or the readings from the Holy Bible; Second, the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, or the Breaking of Bread.
Here we see the two important and major parts of the liturgical celebration which we call the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, also known as the Eucharistic celebration, Holy Communion, and more: First, the Liturgy of the Word, or the readings from the Holy Bible; Second, the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, or the Breaking of Bread.
The Importance of the Word of God
St Jerome have said long ago that, "Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." The walk on the road to Emmaus has shown us that unless we have knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, we will never know and understand the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.
First, it is through a good foundation on the writings of the Jewish Scriptures, the Old Testament, can we understand the meaning of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection for it is where God the Father made the preparations for His Son's coming. The Old Testament writings tell us the story of how God readied the world to receive the only begotten Son.
Secondly, we ought to have a good knowledge about the New Testament writings for in these we will be able to acquaint ourselves with the Lord himself. The New Testament is the story of the Word made flesh; the fulfillment of the preparations that the Father made in the Old Testament.
According to St Paul, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" [2 Timothy 3: 16-17]. However, we must remember that the Holy Bible is an inspired library or collection of various writings under different categories [historical, literary, wisdom, apocalyptic, etc], written by many authors who have different backgrounds, styles, skills and techniques, within a long period of time, and it has an important message and purpose which if misinterpreted could even lead to destruction rather than salvation. That's why we must take heed of what St Peter warns us about, "So we have the prophetic word made sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" [2 Peter 1: 19-21].
One reason why the disciples did not understand is due to the fact that they have not yet received the Holy Spirit who is still to come. For even if the Word of God is very important and useful, it cannot help us unless we understand it. Since it is the Holy Spirit who inspired the authors of the various books of the Holy Bible, He alone can help us understand it. And because the Holy Spirit has been promised by the Lord during the Last Supper to His Apostles and first came down upon them during Pentecost, we can only be assured of the proper interpretation of the Word of God through the teaching authority of the Church, the Magisterium.
First, it is through a good foundation on the writings of the Jewish Scriptures, the Old Testament, can we understand the meaning of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection for it is where God the Father made the preparations for His Son's coming. The Old Testament writings tell us the story of how God readied the world to receive the only begotten Son.
Secondly, we ought to have a good knowledge about the New Testament writings for in these we will be able to acquaint ourselves with the Lord himself. The New Testament is the story of the Word made flesh; the fulfillment of the preparations that the Father made in the Old Testament.
According to St Paul, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" [2 Timothy 3: 16-17]. However, we must remember that the Holy Bible is an inspired library or collection of various writings under different categories [historical, literary, wisdom, apocalyptic, etc], written by many authors who have different backgrounds, styles, skills and techniques, within a long period of time, and it has an important message and purpose which if misinterpreted could even lead to destruction rather than salvation. That's why we must take heed of what St Peter warns us about, "So we have the prophetic word made sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" [2 Peter 1: 19-21].
One reason why the disciples did not understand is due to the fact that they have not yet received the Holy Spirit who is still to come. For even if the Word of God is very important and useful, it cannot help us unless we understand it. Since it is the Holy Spirit who inspired the authors of the various books of the Holy Bible, He alone can help us understand it. And because the Holy Spirit has been promised by the Lord during the Last Supper to His Apostles and first came down upon them during Pentecost, we can only be assured of the proper interpretation of the Word of God through the teaching authority of the Church, the Magisterium.
The Significance of the Holy Eucharist
Though the Lord Jesus Christ already discussed to them everything that the Scriptures provided in order to understand the meaning of His passion, death and resurrection, the two still failed to recognize Him. Though their hearts were already burning because of the lessons they have heard from Scriptures about Him, they were still blinded. Only when the Lord broke the bread, said the blessing and gave them pieces of it that their eyes were opened. Perhaps because of what He did they remembered the two occasions of the multiplication of bread which fed four and and five thousand people respectively.
In the synoptic Gospels [Matthew, Mark and Luke], the Lord instituted during the Last Supper the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. During that night, He told His Apostles while showing the bread, "This is my body" [1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19] and with the cup, "This is the cup of my blood" [1 Corinthians 11:25; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20]. As it is often emphasized, the Lord did not say, "This is the symbol of my body" or "This cup has the symbol of my blood". In John, the Lord emphatically tells the Jews that "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you cannot have eternal life" [see John 6: 53-58]. The two disciples were blessed indeed to have attended and witnessed the first ever breaking of bread after the resurrection and it was celebrated by the Lord himself!
Their eyes were opened and they realized how their hearts burned while He explained to them everything that the Scriptures wrote about Him and His mission. Through the Breaking of Bread, the early term for Holy Eucharist, they understood and realized the He has truly risen. The women told the truth after all! So they hurried back to Jerusalem that very instance and upon arrival have heard the confirmation of their own experience: the Lord has truly risen!
We too can truly experience the presence of the Word made flesh in the Holy Eucharist if we believe. And it can truly transform our lives and inspire us to transform the lives of others also. Only by eating His flesh and drinking His blood can we truly have life [see John 6:53] for without this life that He gives, we cannot truly belong to His kingdom and will never become truly sent to bring others into the fold in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that through the Word, we shall have knowledge of the Lord; but through the Eucharist, we shall have life in the Lord.
The two disciples had the great blessing to attend the very first Mass after the resurrection. They heard the proper explanation of the Word of God from the Word made flesh himself and they witnessed Him breaking bread which opened their eyes to the reality that they were in the presence of the very Word who has given his flesh and blood that we might have salvation! And take note of their reaction: they hurriedly went back to Jerusalem to share such good news and received confirmation of their experience upon arrival!
In the synoptic Gospels [Matthew, Mark and Luke], the Lord instituted during the Last Supper the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. During that night, He told His Apostles while showing the bread, "This is my body" [1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19] and with the cup, "This is the cup of my blood" [1 Corinthians 11:25; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20]. As it is often emphasized, the Lord did not say, "This is the symbol of my body" or "This cup has the symbol of my blood". In John, the Lord emphatically tells the Jews that "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you cannot have eternal life" [see John 6: 53-58]. The two disciples were blessed indeed to have attended and witnessed the first ever breaking of bread after the resurrection and it was celebrated by the Lord himself!
Their eyes were opened and they realized how their hearts burned while He explained to them everything that the Scriptures wrote about Him and His mission. Through the Breaking of Bread, the early term for Holy Eucharist, they understood and realized the He has truly risen. The women told the truth after all! So they hurried back to Jerusalem that very instance and upon arrival have heard the confirmation of their own experience: the Lord has truly risen!
We too can truly experience the presence of the Word made flesh in the Holy Eucharist if we believe. And it can truly transform our lives and inspire us to transform the lives of others also. Only by eating His flesh and drinking His blood can we truly have life [see John 6:53] for without this life that He gives, we cannot truly belong to His kingdom and will never become truly sent to bring others into the fold in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that through the Word, we shall have knowledge of the Lord; but through the Eucharist, we shall have life in the Lord.
The two disciples had the great blessing to attend the very first Mass after the resurrection. They heard the proper explanation of the Word of God from the Word made flesh himself and they witnessed Him breaking bread which opened their eyes to the reality that they were in the presence of the very Word who has given his flesh and blood that we might have salvation! And take note of their reaction: they hurriedly went back to Jerusalem to share such good news and received confirmation of their experience upon arrival!
We too must be like them. After we hear the Word and partake of His body, we ought to proclaim to others the good news of His presence in and through our lives. For if we keep the blessings to ourselves, we shall be considered as worthless servants, not deserving of the gifts which are meant to be shared with others.
The Lord is risen! It's the original good news and we must proclaim it, not keep it to ourselves.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Lord is risen! It's the original good news and we must proclaim it, not keep it to ourselves.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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