Christ has Risen, as He said He would, Alleluia!!!
Happy & blessed Easter to everyone. I pray you have a blessed and joyous Easter Season.
Given we are in Year-B readings, we don’t hear the Road to Emmaus Resurrection account from Luke’s Gospel on a Sunday of Easter. We will hear mostly from John’s Gospel during Easter Sundays. Yet, in advance of the National Eucharistic Congress, I want to look at some of the Scriptural accounts of the Eucharist. Of course, there are the Last Supper accounts in Matthew, Mark, & Luke, plus St. Paul’s account in First Corinthians (which we heard on Holy Thursday). But, there are so many more hints, foreshadowings, and fulfillment accounts in the Scriptures that indicate God’s Plan from the beginning included the Eucharistic Real Presence of Christ.
The Emmaus encounter (Lk 24:13-35) is one of the most profound because it was the first in the New Testament chronology. It was the first Mass after the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room. On the very day of the Resurrection, the first “Lord’s Day,” Jesus drew near to two disciples, disheartened and depressed, walking away from Jerusalem. They had a seven mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The two disciples talked as they walked. Then Jesus came up alongside them unbeknownst and unrecognized to them. He falls in step with them, but not in mindset. In fact, He begins to open their minds to all that was first foreshadowed and foretold of His saving act upon the Cross. He opens the Scriptures to them and to their understanding. Their hearts burn within them as they grow in knowledge and truth. Then they press upon the ‘Stranger’ to accept their hospitality and stay with them. He does. During the meal, “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him” (Lk 24:30-31).
The Emmaus walk was among the first encounters with the Risen Jesus. And in this encounter, there is Scripture & Sacrament, Word & Deed, revelation & salvation, seeing & believing. We see in the structure of the Emmaus event the structure of the Mass. The entrance procession, where we approach Christ; but where, in fact, it is He approaching us. The Scriptures proclaimed and broken open in the homily. The faith professed, followed by our collective accepting of God’s invitation to a meal of hospitality. And in the Breaking of the Bread, we receive His Body. In the wine blessed and shared, we receive His Blood poured out for us. In the Eucharist shared, we recognize Jesus Christ – risen forever – now, truly, really, sacramentally present to us. This gift was intended not only for that first day of Resurrection, but for every Lord’s Day where His Resurrection is re-presented.
We rightly rejoiced last Sunday with Easter Joy at Jesus crucified and risen, in the empty tomb, in the wounds that bled no more – yes! Yet, we rejoice still more that that same Risen Lord comes to encounter us this Sunday, and every Sunday. That He draws near to us in our disheartedness, depression, doubts, and darknesses. All so He may console us, enlighten us, and enliven our hearts within us to Peace, Hope, and Joy. Why would we ever stay away from Him or His True Presence? Where could we ever go?
Those first two disciples needed to understand the Scriptures so as to understand Who and What Christ had done, but they needed even more to Encounter Christ in the Eucharist to have their eyes opened to see Him Risen. So, too, with us disciples. We need to learn the Scriptures to understand our need for Christ and what He gives us. But even more, we need to encounter Christ in the Eucharist to see Him risen and alive – now, today, and forever.
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Celebrating 70 years in our church together as the Holy Family of God…
We are enhancing the church environment. This will include an HVAC upgrade, replacing sanctuary carpet, replacing sanctuary spot lights and repairing existing nave pendant lights and fans, plus refurbishing the pews. Our Parish Goal is $400k.
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Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.
Holy Family, Nourished on the Bread of Life, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries