3 Sunday of Easter | Lk 24:13-35
The feeling of missing out, so common in a world shaped by social media, can also affect how we view the resurrection, as though we were born too late to encounter Christ. The road to Emmaus reveals that the risen Jesus is still present today, especially in the Scriptures, the Eucharist, community, and acts of charity. With the eyes of faith, we come to see that we are not at a disadvantage, but are continually invited to encounter him along our journey.
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Nowadays, with social media, people have the opportunity to share their experiences constantly. If you use platforms like Instagram, you may have had the experience of looking at someone’s post and feeling a bit jealous, as though you are missing out. We all know those people who seem to be travelling, having incredible experiences, maybe even meeting famous people. It can leave us wondering why we cannot experience those same things.
Now imagine for a moment that social media existed during the time of the disciples. You could picture people in first-century Israel scrolling through their feeds and coming across posts from Peter: “So happy to be here with our risen Lord. We didn’t think he would rise from the dead, but here he is.” As time goes on, there are more posts, and then finally one saying that the risen Lord has ascended into heaven. Those reading might think, “I’m too late. I missed it.” They would feel that sense of having missed something extraordinary.
In a similar way, we can sometimes feel this when we read the Gospels. We might think we were born two thousand years too late, that we missed the resurrection, that we do not get to experience Christ as the first disciples did. Because of this, we may feel at a disadvantage, as though we cannot be disciples in the same way.
When we feel like this, the story of the road to Emmaus is incredibly important. It teaches us that we are not at a disadvantage at all. It shows us how we, too, experience the risen Jesus in our midst if we know where to look.
The story describes a journey, and that journey reflects our own lives. Two followers of Jesus are walking along, feeling downcast and heartbroken. They had placed their hopes in Jesus, and now they are disappointed. We can relate to that. Along our own journey, we experience discouragement, confusion, and fatigue. We ask where Christ is and how he is guiding us.
Then comes a remarkable detail. Jesus is walking beside them, but they do not recognize him. This is an important message. The risen Christ is present, but not always immediately visible. This happens in other resurrection accounts as well. In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus but mistakes him for the gardener.
Luke is teaching us that we are like those disciples. Jesus walks with us, even when we do not recognize him.
The Gospel then shows us how we encounter him. First, through the Scriptures. Jesus explains the meaning of the Scriptures to the disciples, and their hearts begin to burn within them. Second, through the breaking of the bread, which is Luke’s way of referring to the Eucharist.
This is why the Mass is so central. In every Mass, we encounter Christ in these same two ways: in the Word and in the Eucharist. We listen to the Scriptures proclaimed, and Christ speaks to us. A word or phrase may stand out, encouraging us or challenging us. Then, in the Eucharist, we receive his presence in a profound and tangible way.
But there is more. The disciples are not alone; they journey together. Christ is also present in community. Whenever we gather in his name, he is there. We encounter him in one another.
We also encounter Christ through acts of charity. The disciples show hospitality to the stranger on the road. They invite him to stay with them. They offer him a meal. It is through this act of kindness that they come to recognize him.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches that when we serve those in need, we serve him. Christ is present in those who are hungry, lonely, or in need of encouragement. When we care for others, we meet him there.
There is a powerful image sometimes called “Christ in the breadline.” It shows a line of people waiting for food, ordinary and tired, and among them stands Christ. The message is simple: he is present in those who are in need.
The Gospel reminds us that we are not missing out. We have not been born too late. The risen Jesus is still present. He walks with us, speaks to us, and reveals himself to us if we have the eyes to see.
Let us ask for the grace to recognize him in the Scriptures, in the Eucharist, in our community, and in those we serve. Along our journey, he is always there.
