Two of the disciples of Jesus were on the road that leads to Emmaus. They were low because their Master had been crucified like a common thief. But now they’ve heard reports that their Master was not dead at all. Reliable sources have told them that he has appeared to some of their most trusted friends. Was he really alive? Should they believe the good news or the bad? And that’s our dilemma, isn’t it? DO WE BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS OR THE BAD? The good news is that Christ is alive. The sad news is how little impact that event is having in our world.
The Jewish custom required that the two disciples invite Jesus to a meal. Hence, they invited Him for a night’s rest in their house–and Jesus accepted the invitation. During the meal, when Jesus broke the bread, the disciples realized that this stranger was not after all a stranger – this was Jesus, the Risen Christ. Later they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us when he opened up the Scriptures to us?” Hidden for a time, Jesus took delight in revealing himself in the breaking of the bread. I don’t know how He’d said it in Yiddish or Hebrew the translation is: “Eat up! It’s good for you!”
You will recall on Easter morning that Jesus told the disciples to “go home.” This time they “go back” a long path – walking 7 miles to Jerusalem to share their story. They were probably pondering all along the way how they, like Mary Magdalene, did not recognize Jesus. For Mary the revelation (Jesus’ delight) came when she heard Jesus’ voice. For the Emmaus disciples it was the breaking of the bread. That continues to this day. Jesus meets us on our way to Emmaus, in the ordinary experiences of our lives, and in the places to which we retreat when life is too much for us. The story warns us, however, that the risen Lord will take delight in coming to us when we least expect him.
A young boy was walking home through the park after attending a Sunday school class. Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about the Bible lesson for that day. What impressed him most was when the teacher said, “You will find the risen Jesus in everyone you meet.” As he continued through the park, he noticed an old woman sitting on a bench. She looked lonely and hungry. So he sat down next to her, took out the chocolate bar he had saved and offered some to her. She accepted it with a beautiful smile. They sat together in silence, just smiling at each other. When the boy was leaving, he had gone a short distance when he ran back to the bench, and gave the woman a big hug. When he arrived home, his mother asked, “What’s making you so happy today?” He said, “I shared my chocolate bar with Jesus.” Before his mother could ask more questions, he added, “You know, she has the most beautiful smile in the world.” Meanwhile, the old woman returned to her little apartment where she lived with her sister who remarked, “You seem really happy today.” “I am,” she replied, “I was sitting in the park, eating a chocolate bar with Jesus. And, you know, he looks a lot younger than I expected.” Isn’t that the lesson in today’s gospel? We will meet and experience the risen Jesus in unexpected places and persons. Make someone smile and notice God’s delight in the smile returned to you.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
