That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he 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 he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, 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?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
Homily
Jesus wants disciples, not politicians!
The minds of these two defeated men were focused entirely on the past. But now they were without hope. Then Jesus entered their conversation; he entered their past.
The problem with these two disciples was that their hopes had been political: “We had hoped that he was the one to free Israel.” Deep down in their hearts they were actually disappointed politicians, not disciples. That’s not too surprising, since it’s a lot easier to be a politician than a disciple.
The Church has a lot more politicians than you might think. A politician wants to change other people. But a true disciple of Jesus Christ is one who’s willing to be changed.
Jesus reads the past for us in a new way.
Jesus listened patiently to the version of history that those two men had. He did not cut them off after a few words. He let them pour out their hearts to him. If he had cut them off, their doubts and objections would have remained suppressed inside them.
He listened, and in the light of what they said he read the past for them in a new way: “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.”
He did not impose his understanding of the past on them, and neither did he impose his understanding of the future. He
simply waited for them to invite him in. When they came near the village they said, “Stay with us!” He allowed them the courtesy of inviting him freely. Remember, faith is God’s gift to us.
Jesus does not force us, he invites us.
Faith is also a mutual invitation, because it’s an invitation to friendship with God. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”
This language is a clear reference to the Eucharist. “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” This is how future disciples will recognize him too, “in the breaking of bread”—not in the many political strategies inside or outside the Church, but “in the breaking of the bread.”
“Stay with us Lord!”
So often we come to Mass blinded by our uncertainties and doubts, just like Cleopas and his companion. And all the while, Jesus has been lovingly walking by our side patiently waiting for us to recognize him.
Now is the time to let him explain the Scriptures to us. Now is the time for us to see him “in the breaking of the bread.” Now is the time for us to say to him with all our hearts, “Stay with us, Lord!” Isn’t it true that we need him now more than ever? Well, he has heard our prayer: He stays with us forever in our tabernacles!