Preacher: Fr Beer | You remember how on Easter Morning Mary Magdalen had gone to the Tomb of Jesus early in the morning only to discover that the tomb was empty.    Needless to say she went into panic mode wondering what to do and seeing a man, she thought was a gardener, asked him what could have happened to the body of Jesus.    It was only when the man called her by her name, `Mary`, that she realised that the man was in fact the Risen Jesus!   With today`s gospel reading from St. Luke we hear of two disciples on the road to Emmaus going home and discussing the events of the previous days in a shocked and crestfallen kind of way.   They were bitterly sad, and somewhat without hope, as they mourned the crucifixion and death of their leader and friend not much more than 48 hours earlier.
Who were these two followers of Jesus, one was Cleopas the other is unnamed.   Artists, such as Alonso Cano, Altobelo Melone and Robert Zund have usually shown two men walking along that road until joined by the stranger.   There is another possibility, it might have been a married couple going home on that road consoling each other – Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas.    Clopas and Cleophas are a variation of the same name and was not Mary, the wife of Clopas, and sister of the Virgin Mary, mentioned as standing at the foot of the Cross in St. John`s Passion narrative at ch.19 v. 25 .   If this should be the case, they were the aunt and uncle of Jesus – no wonder they were so bewildered and grief-stricken.    Jesus had asked them what they were discussing and they were shocked that he did not know what had been going on in Jerusalem over the previous days.   We too might find it surprising particular since on that short journey of about seven miles, or some two and a half to three hours at leisurely pace,  Jesus, as yet unrecognized, quoted Moses and the prophets of old foretelling how the Messiah was to suffer and die.
Arriving at their home the two invited the stranger in – this was in accord with the Jewish laws of hospitality.    They offered the hospitality of a meal and, possibly, a room for the night.   We are told in the gospel story that it was at the breaking of the bread with the accompanying prayer that they recognised Jesus for who He truly is.   Having revealed Himself to them Jesus disappears.   Their sorrow and bewilderment is gone, they are totally re-energised in order to return to Jerusalem and the Upper Room to tell the Good News to the other disciples.    Of course, on arrival there was the confirmation that the Lord had risen and had been seen that very morning by Saints Peter and John a well as Mary Magdalen, the first witness of the Resurrection, and who, together with Our Blessed Lady and her sister Mary the wife of Clopas had been at the foot of the Cross at The Crucifixion.
As these Eastertide Sundays progress we shall see other post-resurrection appearances of Our Lord where is not initially recognised by his apostles and followers.
In the story it is clear the Jesus does not wish to reveal Himself to them fully whilst on the road even though he upbraids them for not understanding what had happened as a fulfilment of the prophecies as he `explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about Himself` (Lk. 24.27) yet without making any direct reference to Himself.    Going back to the First Letter of St. Peter we heard these words, `Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ.` ( 1 Peter 1:19)
Just as the Risen Lord uses so much gentleness with his followers so he does with us!    We find a response in the opening of the `Confessions of St. Augustine of Hippo` – `our heart is restless until it rests in you`
There is, of course, a second reason why Cleopas and his companion recognised who Jesus is, not only in the way in which he took the Bread, blessed and broke it but as he took the bread and raised it they could see, with their own eyes, the hands pierced with the nails of the crucifixion which had remained hidden from them on the longish journey on the road until this point.
The message and theme of this Sunday`s Mass readings is that our God does not abandon us when we are hurt and disappointed but that we are to maintain our contact with the Risen Lord through prayer, the Eucharist – even when we can partake only by a “spiritual communion” rather than actually physically receiving the Sacred Host and the Chalice of the Precious Blood as in the present Pandemic situation.    Prayer and the Eucharist also help us to better understand Our Lord`s presence in the Bible.    Even though, for a time we may not be able to receive the Holy Communion in a physical sense, we cannot limit God`s grace for He comes to us out of His love and our faith – God is not subject to our human limits or understanding.   We are able to receive a “spiritual” communion by faith and desire.
The response to today`s responsorial psalm is a great pointer. “Lord, you will show us the path of life”.   Indeed, Jesus meets each of us on our several roads to Emmaus, in our daily joys and vicissitudes, our relationships, our blessings and our trials.   He comes to us in unfamiliar guises to support and strengthen us when we least expect the Risen Lord.   So often in the way we are helped and served by others!   How often do we find Jesus in other people ?
We meet Jesus on a daily basis on our life`s pilgrim journey certainly in our prayer time, our reading and meditating Holy Scripture and participating in the Mass or Holy Communion but also in personal and family prayer times, family meals, meals with friends and acquaintances and our relationships with others in mutual help and loving service.
Holy Mother Church teaches us that Jesus reveals Himself to us and should be equally venerated in both the Eucharist (the Mass and Holy Communion) even where this is “spiritual” rather than physical as in the Bible too.   It is, therefore, essential that we read and know and pray our Bibles and, particularly in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament writings too since that was the very prayer book which Jesus Himself knew and used.
Our hearts must burn with love as we listen to our Risen Lord as he comes to us in those threefold pillars of PRAYER, HOLY SCRIPTURE and the SACRAMENTS.   We need also to recognise the Risen Lord in other people for He is the Head and we, all of us who are baptised, make up His Body.
Preoccupation with something can sometimes detract from reality, even the reality of the Presence of God.   I read a little story of an American Tourist visiting Basel in Switzerland.   He sat next to Professor Karl Barth, a fellow-passenger on a tram, who asked him, “Are you new to the city ?” “Yes,” said the tourist.   “Is there anything you would particularly like to see in the city ?”   The tourist replied, “Yes, I would like to meet the famous Swiss theologian, Karl Barth,” he continued, “Do you know him?”   Barth replied, “Well, yes I do know him.   I give him a shave every morning.”   The tourist got off at the next stop to meet up with friends at his hotel and was delighted to tell them, “I met Karl Bath`s barber on the tram today!”
Lord Jesus, help us always to look for you and to find you however, and in whomsoever, you reveal yourself to us.