The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Gospel Trivia:
The significance of this gospel passage is reflected in the following notes:
- The encounter is between Jesus and ordinary disciples, and not with the Eleven apostles. From the story, it appears that these disciples have given up on Jesus -- they thought he was the Messiah, but since nothing happened after his crucifixion, it now seems they should continue waiting for someone else. They were now walking AWAY, but note that after the encounter with Jesus, they travelled BACK to Jerusalem.
- The crucifixion is such a despicable way to die. Imagine your hoped-to-be leader and messiah being sent to die in the electric chair; death by crucifixion is a lot more ignoble than that. Jesus relates the crucifixion with the Old Testament themes of the Suffering Servant and the rejected prophet. Suddenly, it makes sense to them: that the messiah is not one that will liberate them militarily but a more profound redeemer of humanity.
- The storyline follows the eucharistic liturgy: Jesus explains the crucifixion in the context of Scriptures (Liturgy of the Word), and then breaks bread with them (Liturgy of the Eucharist).
- Finally, note that after the disciples finally realized who the stranger is, Jesus vanishes from them.
The gospel passage reassures the early Christian communities (and we today) that Jesus will continue to be present, but no longer in a physical way. One encounters him, in faith, most especially in the Eucharist: in the scriptures and in the breaking of the bread.
Other Trivia:
- The Emmaus story is found only in the gospel of Luke, and is consistent with themes that are important for this evangelist such as sharing a meal and extending hospitality to strangers.
- Where exactly is Emmaus? See area in map marked RED.
Sources:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), pp. 394-395
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 721.
No comments:
Post a Comment