Luke 24:13-35 On the Road to Emmaus

OBSERVATION:

- The passage points to the experience of Jesus AFTER the Resurrection. It shows that Jesus' Resurrection is more than resuscitation, but also transformation. He continues to be present, but not like before. The disciples did not right away recognize him. There's something more than just physical presence.
- Everytime characters and places are mentioned, then it indicates it is a very important passage - Cleopas is named and Emmaus. It features minor characters, not the apostles, so likely important to the early Christian communities for Luke to have included it.
- Note that it is Jesus that breaks the bread, and not the host, which is the custom, which means that Luke wishes to highlight a point.

- Luke is talking about the early Eucharist, which at that time were "discussion groups" in households very similar to a CC. There were prayers, readings, sharings, followed by a fellowship meal, just like a CC. Luke wanted to say that Jesus continues to be present with us, even though now invisible, but is present everytime we gather to break bread.

- Look at the flow of the gospel. From non-recognition to recognition. Now, in the middle part, there is a sharing of disappointments. "We had hoped," the two disciples said. We too, share in our CC's: we had hoped that my friend or relative didn't get sick, or our children were not such a problem, or things worked out in my job better than the way it did, and so on. "We had hoped" because God often does not meet our expectations.

- In answer, Luke says that it's because we look with our human eyes, and we do not see Jesus right there in front of us. If Jesus' death had meaning, then certainly our disappointments and sufferings have meaning too.

- After the sharing of disappointments, there is a meal sharing. Again, just like in a CC.

INTERPRETATION:

- Luke's purpose is to convince early Christians that Jesus presence continues even though he is now invisible. We experience him when we reflect on his life and teachings, when we share our lives (both high points and low points) with one another, and when we share a meal as a sign of our fellowship. When we do all these things, we "recognize" Jesus in our midst.

GENERALIZATION:

- Luke is describing the essence of Caring Circles.
- He is also describing the Eucharist as a sacrament, or sign of God's presence today. The Mass is a "larger CC." We reflect on the Word and share a meal. Just like a CC, it results (at least it should) to a closer bonding among all of us who are children in God's family.

APPLICATION:

- How can we contribute to ensure that our CC's become occasions of recognizing presence of Jesus among us?
- How do we behave after the Mass? How do we make it more than a private obligation, but an impetus for increasing our bonds with all of God's children, including those beyond our immediate family and friends.