Experiencing God - Opening our hearts 174

"Did not our hearts burn while he opened to us the scriptures"
Gospel of Luke

In this Gospel story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we see two very discouraged people.  As they were wandering to their village a few miles outside Jerusalem, they were described as looking very sad.  In the Jerusalem Bible, it reads:  "Their faces were downcast".  And of course, we know why.  They had witnessed all that had happened to Jesus: His arrest, His torture, and His execution.  All their hopes and dreams in respect to Jesus were shattered, and they were returning to Emmaus to try to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives. 

And then, the extraordinary happens.  Jesus Himself came along and began to walk with them.  But they failed to recognize Him. 

In one Gospel text, it is described as: "their eyes were held back from seeing Him", an expression of their spiritual blindness.  Even though these two disciples had read many times the teachings of the prophets from the Old Testament; even though they were familiar with Jesus' teachings during the preceding three years; they failed to make the connection.  Jesus to them was only that historic figure whose life was played out before them, and ended with His death on the cross.

So Jesus greeted them, listened to their despondent responses, and then began to process of opening their hearts and minds.  Finally, as they invited Jesus into their home, and during the breaking of the bread, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. 

By this time their mood had completely changed from despondency to a new found hope and excitement.  They immediately returned to Jerusalem to meet with the other disciples to share the news.

The story of the two disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus is really our own story as the reality of the scriptures are opened to our own minds and hearts.  He journeys with us, lifting us from our despondency, giving us the hope and excitement we need to return to Jerusalem to give witness to His  transformational presence in our lives.  This new Jerusalem is the community of the faithful.  His presence is found in the words from scripture, in the breaking of the bread that we share.

Our task today is to become that witness to Christ, active and present in our lives as we open our hearts to Him.  We give witness to teach and to heal those who are unable to see or understand Him clearly.