Have you ever wondered why Jesus hung around so long after the Resurrection, appearing here and there?
Taking on our human nature, He knew how stressed out His family and followers must have been. They were in emotional and spiritual distress, so He knew they needed the comfort that was uniquely His to give.
So here we are on a lonely road to Emmaus, discussing the dreadful events that have recently befelled them, only to find a stranger overtaking them and asking where they were heading.
Great analogy for our own times, when our world, family, neighbors, community, and world have been besieged by a pandemic which has taken over our lives on so many levels, the least of which is not the loss of Masses.
Jesus in His patience starts talking to the two, trying to bring forth from them their grief and suffering. He goes home with them, then He has a meal with them.
And they knew Him in the breaking of the bread- as we now know Him daily in the breaking of His Body for us.
There is something about this story which has appealed to artists throughout the ages, especially in modern times. There are more images of this scene than almost any in the New Testament. We certainly see our own fears and doubts, even when the Lord walks with us.
Yet we are better off than these travelers, as we know what happens on Easter- and while we may not know the immediate future (do we ever?), all the predictions can’t give us hope, as that is only given to us by Jesus Himself in His Resurrection.
Images: Left- Patrick Dominguez
Right- Arcabas