Meeting Jesus on the Road

Readings for Sunday May 8 2011 Third Sunday of Easter

Summary of the Gospel from YM Central

The Gospel account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a model for all Christians about encountering Christ. This passage occurs later in the day on Easter Sunday, and two disciples (one of whom is named Cleopas) are on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Why they were going, we are not sure: Perhaps they were trying to get away from the ‘buzz’ that was over Jerusalem. Indeed we find out from Cleopas that Jesus’ crucifixion was the talk of the town. The two disciples just happen to meet up with a traveler, whom we know is Jesus – but they don’t! Cleopas makes sure that this person (Jesus) understands very well that he has essentially been living under a rock for three days, and belittles Jesus for His apparent ignorance of current events. The two of them decide to fill Jesus in about the events of His crucifixion (isn’t that ironic), but express some doubt about the apparent rumors that Jesus has been resurrected. Jesus wastes no time telling them how foolish they are (throwing it back in their faces), but rather then abandoning them, He begins to strategically take them through the Scriptures, to show them how He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. What Jesus does with them is give them the ultimate Bible study, passing on to them the true interpretation of the Old Testament passages. We see a clear precedent for the proper study of the Bible: Only in Christ can we have the proper interpretation of Scripture. The two disciples were literally caught up and transformed by Jesus’ words: How many of us have been transformed by a new and fresh understanding of Jesus? The disciples were totally enraptured with Him, and wanted to hear more, so much so that they wouldn’t let Him leave. At dinner, Jesus blessed and broke the bread (as He had done at the Last Supper), and in that action, the two disciples recognized Jesus. Does this make you wonder why they didn’t recognize Him before – and to whom did they think that they were talking as He lectured them (certainly it sounds like the two of them weren’t strangers to Jesus and His disciples)? Jesus uses this occasion to teach them not only about Scripture, but also about the Eucharist. They recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, a direct reference to the Eucharist, the Bread of life. The Eucharist is what feeds us and helps us to see and love Jesus. The two disciples were overcome with joy upon recognizing the Lord. Is this how you and I participate at the Holy Mass? Many times we think that the Mass is boring – Is that Jesus’ fault? Is that the priest’s fault? Perhaps it is time that we look squarely at ourselves, and not place the blame with anyone else. What more does Jesus need to do to make Himself present to us at the Mass? Jesus holds nothing back to us at Mass, just as He held nothing back from the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. May the example of the two disciples challenge us to shift our focus to what really matters, and constantly be looking for Jesus in the Mass.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Describe the emotion that the two disciples felt as their hearts ‘burned’ with the words of Jesus.

2. Think back to a time when Jesus revealed Himself to you, either at Mass, in Scripture or through prayer that was a powerful meeting with Him: How did that experience change who you were? Describe.


Reading 1 Acts 2:14, 22-33

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 22 You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. 23 This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. 24 But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. 26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, 27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
29 “My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Questions for Discussion:

1. What does Peter say about Jesus in v. 22?

2. Why does Peter move on to David’s prophecy in Ps 16? How does it show that Jesus is Messiah? Who is speaking? To Whom? Who is the Holy One in v. 27?


Reading 2 1 Peter 1:17-21

17 Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, 18 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. 20 He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, 21 who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


Questions for Discussion:

1. For the sake of clarity, if somebody were to ask you what holiness is, how would you define it? What exactly does “holy” mean, and based upon what?

2. Explain from the above Scriptures what Christians are separated from, and what they are set apart for.



Gospel Luke 24:13-35

13 That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. 24 Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Questions for Discussion:

1. If you have ever lost a person you loved, you know what kind of thoughts, feelings and regrets one is dealing with after a funeral. Tell us about them.

2. Jesus had died two days earlier in a very cruel way. What do you think had been most difficult for Cleopas and his friend during these days?

3. Why did Jesus first allow these two mourning men to speak out their sorrow?

4. What would have happened if Jesus had started his explanation of the Bible right away?

5. Jesus knows all our sorrows already - why does he want to hear them from our own mouths?

6. How did the faith of these two men change after the death of Jesus?

7. Why didn't these two believe what the women and others told them about the resurrection (vs. 22-24)?

8. What is the difference between the interpretation Jesus gives about his own death and the interpretation Cleopas and his friend give about it (vs. 19-21 and 25-27)?

9. Why did Jesus act as if he were going farther (vs. 28)?

10. Why didn't the two men realize who Jesus was until he was breaking the bread?

11. What made these two men walk the 7 miles back to Jerusalem in the darkness?

12. Do I feel Jesus near me when I am troubled or sad? What do I talk to him about?

Enjoy the Reading and pass them on, tommyk