Recognizing Christ
The Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 24:13-35), recounts another appearance of the Risen Jesus to His disciples. This time, Jesus appears to two disciples who have left Jerusalem after seeing Jesus crucified. As Luke tells us, they were “downcast.” Jesus comes and starts walking with them. At the time, they don’t recognize Him.
As they are walking, Jesus asks them what they were discussing on their way. Then, one of them, named Cleopas, starts talking about Jesus and their hopes that He was the Messiah. He speaks about Jesus’ death, and the news that the tomb was empty. You can hear the pain in Cleopas’ voice, and the words almost pouring out of him as he expresses his grief at what happened. And this grief, perhaps similar to what Thomas felt, has kept them from taking heart in the news that some women had, of angels telling them that Jesus was alive.
Jesus takes the opportunity to interpret the Scriptures, so that they realize that the Messiah had to suffer and die and then “enter into his glory.” Cleopas and his companion convince Jesus to stay with them for the night. And when they are eating, and Jesus breaks bread with them, they recognize Him, and at that time, He vanishes from their sight. The disciples return to Jerusalem and share their experience of the Risen Christ with the other disciples who have also seen Him.
It’s not difficult to feel “downcast” these days. There is much suffering in our world. There is war and violence and cruelty. We may be tempted to think that some people who are suffering deserve what they are getting, but that is not the way of Jesus. We are not to rejoice in the suffering of others. It is in this context that I hear these words in our second reading (1 Peter 1:17-21):
“If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct…with the precious blood of Christ…”
Easter tells us that we do not have to stay downcast, but we can continue in hope, working for justice and peace, helping to build up the kingdom. The Gospel tells us that the two disciples recognized Jesus in the “breaking of the bread.” We who have not seen Jesus, in the flesh, so to speak, still encounter Him in the Eucharist, and take Him into ourselves.
In the midst of hate and fear and despair, how do we see ourselves and each other in the “breaking of the bread?” Do we see ourselves as beloved of God, people for whom Jesus died and rose again?
Do we see each other as brothers and sisters, as fellow pilgrims on the journey, called not to demean and exclude, but called to have reverence for each other and to support each other?
Do we see ourselves as disciples, messengers of the Good News of Jesus Christ, called to live out the Eucharist in love and service? Do we see ourselves together as the Body of Christ, the Church, a community of faith, given a mission to share the love of God in Jesus Christ with the world, so that others may be healed?
May we open our hearts to take Jesus ever more deeply into our lives. May His love open our hearts to recognize each other as beloved of God.
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In the Risen Christ,
Phil, CP
