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This is Easter Day
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The reference to their eyes being kept from recognising Jesus refers to the need for ‘special sight’ to see Jesus
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They make their affirmation of faith to the stranger - a brief credal statement.
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The women who went to the tomb saw a vision of angels, but no MM sighting of the risen Lord – this gives the opportunity on their return to Jerusalem to hear that the Lord has appeared to Peter! (see also 1 Cor 15)
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Jesus then guides them through the prophecies that refer to the Messianic suffering. Jesus had on several occasions predicted the suffering, but the message seems not to have been received. So Luke is convinced that Moses (the Law) and the prophets are on the side of this Jesus as the Messiah.
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Jesus is invited as the guest, but he assumes the role of host. His actions refer back to the Last Supper. There are here also strong overtones of the Christian Eucharist, and for example to the Feeding of the 5000 – ie the bread of life is never found wanting.
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At the breaking of the bread this new ‘sight’ that is needed to recognize the risen Jesus is conferred on the 2 disciples. ‘Their eyes were opened’ and they recognized him.
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Throughout this passage there are resonances with the life of the church – reading scripture, breaking bread – Christ is made known to us through these. In the early church those who were not yet fully admitted to the faith were accustomed to leaving the liturgy before the creed and the Eucharistic Prayer – it was only for those who eyes had been opened.
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Part of the whole process of initiation in the early church was to build up a real expectation about ‘knowing Jesus’. John Chrysostom even speaks to his baptism candidates about the hairs standing on the backs of their necks as they await the moment of baptism! We can imagine therefore this sense of excitement – ‘did not our hearts burn within us’ a clear sign of the passion for the faith.
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Making the journey with the risen Christ is also a model for discipleship – travelling into faith – journeying with the church (maybe the whole church community or maybe a ‘spiritual guide’ leading an individual into a real commitment. The whole story is what we might call ‘catechetical’
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They return to Jerusalem immediately to be told by the others that the rumours of the women are true, and that the Lord has appeared to Simon (Peter)
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This resurrection appearance in Luke is full of profound meaning – about our personal conviction in Christ, and the nature of the Church. We are a paschal community, focussed on the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. As we journey as a community of faith we are fed on Christ through his presence not least in the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.
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The last four bible studies have all been about the gospel witness of ‘Christ present’ and the eyes of faith needed to recognize him.
