Third Sunday of Easter

The Disciples of Emmaus

"Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him."

The resurrection glorified the body of Jesus. The process of glorification did not only make the body of Jesus immortal, it did not only invest the body of Jesus with certain qualities such as the capacity to pass through walls, it somehow altered the appearance of Jesus.

"But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel (disciples)."

The feeling here is one of great disappointment. But it also betrays lack of faith.

"Oh how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! (Jesus)"

I think Jesus is expressing great disappointment here. How exasperated Jesus must have been. How often did Jesus not foretell everything that would happen to him. Yet his disciples could not grasp what he was saying.

"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."

The verbs used here are similar to the verbs used to relate the story of the Last Supper and the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. In other words, this episode has allusions to the Eucharist. Through faith our eyes too are opened and see Jesus in the Eucharistic bread.

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us? (disciples)"

During his 3 years as an itinerant preacher, people flocked to him. They wanted to hear his words. He spoke like no other. He probably touched the hearts of people. Jesus is no longer present like before. Yet we can still hear his words and he can touch our hearts when we open and read the pages of the gospels. The words of scriptures are so powerful that they can change the course of one's life. St. Augustine and St. Ignatius of Loyola are just two the many saints who turned to God after having heard or read the bible.