Gospel of 12 April 2023
Luke 24:13-35
Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, 'What matters are you discussing as you walk along?' They stopped short, their faces downcast.
Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, 'You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.' 'What things?' he asked. 'All about Jesus of Nazareth' they answered 'who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.'
Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. 'It is nearly evening' they said 'and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?'
They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, 'Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
Reflection on the Lithograph
In this lithograph Maurices Denis gave a contemporary twist to the subject of the Supper at Emmaus. We see Christ sitting at a table, blessing the bread. Facing him is the artist himself. He is the disciple who has just realised the identity of his extraordinary table companion. Denis's wife Marthe is entering the room carrying a dish. A friend is carrying two small jugs containing water and wine. The print, issued after the original painting which is at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, sets the story of today's Gospel reading in a contemporary setting. Note also the two candelabra on the table, with the flames being unified. The light of our candle is invited into Christ's light and thus they shine brighter together.
The reading this morning is one that can truly help us with our prayer life. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were clearly discouraged, saddened and downcast. We can all find ourselves in that place from time to time… in the shadow of the cross. What Jesus does in our Gospel reading is simply to ask his unsuspecting disciples why they were feeling sad. He just invited them to share what was on their mind, to tell him what was in their hearts. That is exactly what Jesus asks us each time we come to him in prayer: to share what is in our hearts, the joys, the pains.
And once the disciples shared what was in their hearts, the Gospel reading tells us that then it was Jesus' turn to speak. Again the same goes with us. Once we have shared what is on our mind, it is then time to listen to Our Lord. There comes a time in our prayer when, having opened our hearts to the Lord, we simply need to sit back and listen to his word to us.
LINKS
Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-24-13-35-2023/
The Pilgrims at Emmaus, Lithograph by Maurice Denis, 1895 © Alamy