b. The “testing” by Jesus (v. 28-29); Jesus subjects the two travelers to a
three-way “qualifying test.” First, recognition (they fail); second, the
Stranger’s need for shelter (they pass); third, the glorifying test (v. 30-31; again
they pass because they recognize him. (This interpretation parallels Jesus’ parable
of the goats and the sheep at the end of the age in Matthew 25.) [2]
c. Hospitality -- Gregory the Great: “this is a moral lesson concerning
hospitality” [3]
d. Answers the Question: How can people who have never personally “seen” the
resurrected Jesus recognize him and thus, believe in him? [4]
e. Instruction: how Christ reveals himself today-through Scripture, through the
breaking of bread, and through the public worship of the Church.
This passage is an example of a
“history of the heart,” in which this story is part of all of our stories.
• Recall yours (or someone’s) dark night of the soul; remembering the
despondency, the sense of hopelessness helps us to enter the opening of this story with
empathy. Don’t we share the same temptation against the backdrop of dashed hopes?
• Quote-
. . . after recognizing Jesus the two travelers did not even think about the dark and
dangerous road, because they knew where they belonged: with the brothers and sisters! The
diabolic danger of every temptation is that it tries to alienate us from others, to sever
us from the fellowship of the church, to make us isolated and alone. [5]
• If you’ve never proclaimed
this homily as story about meeting Christ through Scripture / Sacrament / and Public
Worship - have at it!
What are the
commentators saying the Emmaus story is about?