Commentary:
This event is set immediately following the Pentecost event and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter now responds to those who did not understand Christ’s gift in the first of six “Missionary Discourses” dealing with the resurrection of Jesus and the importance of that event. From the NAB footnote we hear; “Modern scholars term these discourses in Acts the "kerygma," the Greek word for proclamation (cf 1 Cor 15:11). St. Peter uses the King David, from whose line the messiah was to come according to the Hebrew Scriptures, to establish the identity of Christ and provide and understanding for his ultimate resurrection.
Psalm 18 is one of trust in God. Each strophe ends with an affirmation of faithfulness. Key in the context of the Easter season is the idea of trust in God who has conquered death and offers the same gift “…you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.”
This selection is concerned primarily with the call of God's people to holiness and to mutual love. St. Peter encourages them to act in accord with their call and through those actions accept their redemption through the blood of Christ
This story of the disciples of the road to Emmaus is only found in Luke’s Gospel. There is a mention in Mark (Mark 16;12) that is vague but probably refers to this event. The actual location of Emmaus is not known but it is estimated that it was between 7 and 18 miles from Jerusalem. The focus of the story is the unrecognized Jesus interprets scripture and then his recognition in the breaking of the bread (the Eucharistic reference).
Reflection:
It is now two weeks to the day since the joyful news of our salvation was once again proclaimed to the world. Could there be anyone who had not heard the news? For the second time this year we are given the story from St. Luke’s Gospel about the two disciples of Jesus (although not members of the 12) walking the seven miles to Emmaus.
When we think of them, we wonder why they were going away from Jerusalem; why they were leaving, especially after they had heard the story from the two Marys? Were they afraid? Jesus, their teacher had just been put to death. The other disciples we are told were hiding behind
locked doors for fear of the Jews. They probably were afraid. But why did they leave? Could it have been that they just did not want to stay there when things were getting bad. Were they reacting the way a child might at the scary or embarrassing part of a movie they hide their face in their hands or leave the room so they don’t have to see what comes next?
It is this emotion we think about today. It goes without saying that we know that as the faithful followers of Christ in the modern world, we know we are called to be courageous for Christ. But we also live in a society when wearing your faith on the “outside” is not considered to be politically correct. If we work for a government, or civil employer such as the public schools, any public reference to our specific spiritual beliefs is even forbidden (except ironically as profanity) . Those who spend a majority of their time in this kind of a situation are understandably less outspoken orally. But as St. Frances of Assisi said “Preach the Gospel always and use words when you have to.”
For those of us who do not work or spend our days in environments where referring to the Lord we risk the scorn, ridicule, or marginalization if we are too outspoken for the faith. We tend to avoid confrontation and in some cases we run in the wrong direction - like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is at these times when we must also understand that we encounter Jesus in that space as well. We look to him and he turns us around and we run all the way back - but were we see him best is in the breaking of the bread. It is there we look for him today and there we pledge to once more bring his peace and love to the world.
Pax
Pray for Esther
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] Even though it was used recently we use the picture “Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio, 1601
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] Even though it was used recently we use the picture “Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio, 1601
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