The Road to Emmaus

The Resurrection appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus is tantalising and mysterious and might lead us to ask all sorts of questions beginning with, “Why?”  So, you might like to read the passage carefully again and answer these questions.

Why were the disciples walking away from Jerusalem and going to a village called Emmaus?  Why didn’t these two disciples recognise Jesus?  Why doesn’t Jesus just reveal himself to them and say, look, it’s me?

Why didn’t these two disciples respond more positively to the testimony of the women?  We learn that they had heard a report that some of the women had seen a vision of angels declaring Jesus to be alive.  Why didn’t they take note of what these women had said and go to check out the story?

Why did Jesus have to go through all the scriptures with them again?  He would have done this in the three years he spent with them and the Gospel accounts make clear that Jesus explained to his disciples that the Son of Man would have to suffer and die and be raised up on the third day.  Why have they forgotten everything?

They still haven’t recognised Jesus, so why did they ask him to stay with them?”  Why were their eyes opened?  Why did they recognise him in the breaking of the bread?  Why did their hearts burn within them as he explained the scriptures to them.  Why did he then vanish from their sight? 

God bless, Fr Kevin.