Readings:
1st Reading; Acts 2 : 14, 22 – 33
Responsorial Psalm; Ps. 15 : 1 – 2, 5, 7 – 11.
2nd Reading; 1 Peter 1 : 17 – 21
Gospel; Luke 24 : 13 – 35

The First Reading today begins immediately after the experience of the descent of the Holy Spirit during the Jewish agricultural celebration of Pentecost. Some of those who were listening to the disciples speaking in various tongues explained it all by saying that they all had been drinking too much of the new wine from the celebration. Peter stands up and what we hear is his explanation for the unusual behavior of the brethren. Peter does two important things in this address. He summarizes the basic Christian beliefs about Jesus. He is from God. Jesus, through the power of God, did great and mighty deeds. God handed Him over into the hands of the Jews. Some of the Jews, contrary to the Law, had Jesus crucified. God raised Him up from the powers of death by raising Him to life. In the second part, Peter supports his utterances from the promises made to David.

The Gospel is a wonderful story of the Resurrection. Two good human beings have suffered through the Passion and death of Jesus. They had their faith-dream crash into pieces. They had seen the cross as defeat and did not remember the other promises from Scripture and from Jesus. They follow their natural inclinations to go backward to the familiar. They do this with downcast faces and spirits. They trusted the teachings of Jesus, His friendship and invitations. Perhaps they too had left everything to follow Jesus and now they were returning to patch it all back together by themselves. Jesus also recounts all that had been promised in the times of old about His coming and consequences.Jesus also chides them for their slowness in understanding the scriptures concerning the Messiah. Jesus only makes them realise that He is Jesus during the breaking of bread. Then He disappears.

Quite often, we find out that we have accepted to follow Jesus and when there is a hurdle on our way that surpasses us, we give up and relocate to our old ways, which did not serve us in the first place. Here we see two, who quickly return to Jerusalem after regaining their sight and recognising Jesus. Their desire to preach the Risen Lord increases and nothing would stop them again.

This is one of the most beautiful stories of the Resurrection from Cleophas and companion. They have trusted in Jesus all through. Now they are downcast, disappointed and disillusioned because the Jesus they had their hopes in, is nowhere to be found. They had definite hopes for the liberation of Israel. They had narrow minds about the kingship of Jesus.

We can relate to this. Jesus is always around with us. We fail to recognise Him when He speaks to us. Sometimes we fail to listen even when He is speaking. He demands us to have a human touch like Cleophas and companion. Their human touch makes them to invite the stranger to stay the night with them. Through this their generosity, kindness, they recognise Jesus. The next day, they also get back to Jerusalem to proclaim what they have witnessed.

Jesus is present in all Christian communities. All through life’s day, our risen Lord walks with us. Often, however, He is a stranger to us, for He never forces Himself upon us. Before the end of the day, we can always ask so many questions, experience many failures, disappointments, heart and headaches. And then, suddenly, whether we are young, middle aged or old, we will find that the day is far spent, the shadows are lengthening and the night is fast approaching.

In the moment, we pray like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus that our eyes will be opened and that we will recognise Him – the stranger who walked by our side – as the risen Lord. And He will not vanish from our sight. Instead, He will be our guide as we travel through the dark valley of death, until we arrive safely at the Father’s house.

As Christians, it is our own turn to recognise our own way to Emmaus. Maybe your own road to Emmaus is your marriage home, your jobside, your local meeting point, the market place or the school. What I am pondering about is this, if Jesus makes Himself known to you on your way to Emmaus and asks you what you were talking about, what would you tell him? That you were talking about football, politics, gossiping, blackmailing, talking about your new plans of prostitution, to become more corrupt? I hope your answer will not embarrass you like mine does , me! Just one thing is required after our response, that when we have met and recognised Jesus, we are obliged as Christians to return to let those who were with us to know that we have found Him.

A little Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for making yourself known to me on my daily road to Emmaus. Sometimes I am slow to follow you. Open the eyes of my heart to recognise your presence with me and to understand the truth of your saving word. Nourish me with your life-giving word and with the bread of life. Amen.

Have Blessed Week!
Bobe Talla Toh