Gospel – Luke 24: 15-35
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognising him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.
Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.
Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”
Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.
But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass is for Mary Burrows RIP and the intentions of Chris B. in the Convent Chapel.
Funeral Mass of Betty O’Shea, RIP in Our Lady’s Church
Reflection:
‘We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.’ We feel so similar to the two disciples of Emmaus, full of disappointed hopes, which make us angry or even resentful. I let myself get in touch with the disappointments in my heart and imagine Jesus walking with me as I struggle to regain hope and trust. For Jesus the key is found in the Scriptures, especially in the great mystery of the Cross, which seems to be the only way to the Resurrection. I ask Jesus to enlighten me and to set my heart burning as he did to the two disciples.
‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ This is the kernel of the Good News, the basic message preached by the apostles, and although seemingly incredible, it convinced many to embrace this new faith in the Risen Jesus. Sometimes we seem to present Christianity in a way that relegates the Resurrection to a marginal place in our faith. I pray the Church will never cease to preach this truth, in season and out of season.
- Cleopas and his companion saw and heard Jesus without knowing that they did. Did Jesus, in his discussion of Moses and the prophets on the road to Emmaus, remind his listeners of Moses’ admonition that “the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14)?
