The story of the road to Emmaus is perhaps the most beautifully told story in all the gospels. The rich sense of details touches our hearts in a very profound way and adds to the suspense of this unique and intimate meeting between Jesus and the disciples. This story is also a spiritual treasure. How many retreats and prayer nights and spiritual direction sessions have stemmed from this account? How many times have we urged and prayed and said: “Stay with us Lord”?
The Theme
Many themes can be drawn from this account, but I have always been fascinated by the theme of visitation, invitation, and response. In this story unlike other stories in Luke’s gospel, Jesus seems to come “uninvited” to share a meal with the disciples. Cleopas echoes this by calling him a “stranger” or “visitor” to “Jerusalem” (25:18). Yet the irony is evident. The divine “stranger” seems to know Jerusalem and the events that occurred more than them, as he rebukes them because they are “foolish” and “slow of heart” to believe (25:25). Yet for Luke, Jesus can only perform when he is “invited”, hence as they draw near they “urge” him and invite him. Now the tables, so to speak, are turned. The guest is now host as he so often is; and the hosts (disciples) who accepted him on the road, now become the “invited” ones.
Our Story
This is the story of each of us. We are the unnamed disciple. Oftentimes our faces are downcast as suffering, disappointments and perhaps depression overcomes us. This world confuses us and our sin alienates us and we feel that ‘no one understands’. This could be because of a broken heart or a broken dream, a disappointment or hurt from a close friend or family member. Even God seems to be silent. ‘Where are you Lord?’ we often say, as we feel abandoned. We do not feel he is walking with us.
But this story is one of hope in the risen Lord, who is at the heart of our suffering consoling us and listening to us, but never imposing himself on us. Luke, wants to make this clear when he says that as they approached the village Jesus pretends to “keep going further” but they “urge him” to stay.
How great is Jesus. He wants us to ask him to stay because he doesn’t want to ‘burden’ us with his presence. This is LOVE. A love that is not possessive. A love built on FREEDOM as he continues to knock on the doors of our hearts through his word waiting for us to choose to open.
Scripture, the word of God and Eucharist are at the core of our faith. It is only when we “respond” to the seeds panted by the ‘words of Jesus’ and share in the “breaking of the bread” (25:35) that we truly recognise him and love him. This is the time when, Jesus “invites” each of us, to be transformed, ready to go out on mission. The question remains; will we recognise and invite him in?
Burning Hearts 