Acts 2:14, 22-33/ Psalm 16/ 1 Peter 1:17-21/ Luke 24:13-35
Theme: We Celebrate the Word and Sacraments
People are often puzzled by the various modes of Christ’s presence. Today, the liturgy reminds us that Christ is both present in his Word and in the breaking of bread. Thus both Word and Sacrament are integral parts of a single coming of the risen Christ to his people and to every Christian Assembly.
In the first reading, Peter having been filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost gave four proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ namely that Jesus was a human being (vv. 22-24); the prophecy of David (vv. 25-31); the witness of the believers (v.33); the presence of the Holy Spirit (vv.33-35). This evidence shows that the Resurrection of Jesus is a reality.
In the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we again see how Jesus reveals himself to us not only through his Word but also through the breaking of bread. Emmaus was a small village eight miles northwest of Jerusalem. The two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus were discouraged disciples who had no reason to be discouraged. They had heard of the reports of the women that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was alive, but they did not believe them. They had hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel but their hopes had been shattered.
“Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). This explains why Jesus opened the Word to these two men as the three of them walked to Emmaus. Their real problem was not in their heads but in their hearts. They might have discussed the subject for days without arriving at a satisfactory answer. What they needed was a fresh understanding of the Word of God and Jesus gave that understanding to them when “He said to them, “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared… then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures” (Luke 24:25-27). He opened the scriptures and then opened their eyes and they realized that Jesus was not only alive but right there with them.
Their fundamental problem was that they did not believe all that the prophets had written about the Messiah. That was the problem with most of the Jews in that day: they saw the Messiah as a conquering Redeemer but did not see him as the Suffering Servant. As they read the Old Testament, they saw the glory but not the suffering, the crown but not the cross.
When Jesus explained the Scripture to them, I am sure that they began getting understanding but “As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly saying ‘Stay with us because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over. So he went in to stay with them” (Luke 24:28-29). They had been won over by the Word of God even though they did not know who Jesus was. All they knew was that their hearts were ‘burning’ within them and they wanted the blessing to last. We are told that they virtually forced him to stay with them.
The more we receive the Word of God, the more we will want to fellowship with the God of the Word. Having mere bible knowledge can lead to just an intellectual understanding of Jesus but receiving the truth and walking with the Savior will lead to a burning heart. They now experienced Jesus personally and this is what made a difference in their lives.
The best evidence that we have understood the Word of God and met the living Christ is that we have something to share with others. For “That same hour, they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying “The Lord has indeed risen and he has appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:34). What a difference it will make in our Churches if everybody will witness to the Resurrected Christ personally every time we hear the Word of God.
As if the Word of God was not enough for them to bear witness to Christ. They also recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread. “Then they told what has happened on the road and how he has been made known to them in the breaking of bread” (Luke 24:35). As the Word of God renewed their faith in Jesus, the Eucharist aided them to recognize Jesus. What is our own experience whenever we come to Mass? These are some of the Characteristics of the New Testament Church.
The second reading reminds us that ‘fear’ or circumspection must characterize the Christian life. This is because “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways you inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The fact that he laid down his life for us places a moral obligation on us to live dignified lives.
In conclusion, may God give us a fresh understanding of his Word and the Eucharist we celebrate every day. What a privilege it was for them to listen to Jesus expound the Word and break bread with them. But privileges always bring responsibilities: they were to be witnesses of all that Jesus had said and done and they were to do it urgently. A witness is somebody who sincerely tells what he had seen and heard. We too are sent out to witness to Christ in his Word and in the breaking of the bread. This occurs at the Mass’s end when the Priest says “Go in the peace of Christ the Mass is ended”. This is what the Church has faithfully done in the celebration of the Mass over the years.