ACC ~ Luke 24 v28 - 35
OVERVIEW:
Only after hearing the Word of the Old Testament opened up to them does he then open their eyes to see that he is the crucified and risen Lord. Broken bread is the key to open eyes (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). The Emmaus meal is pivotal because it continues Jesusâ preresurrection table fellowship and begins the churchâs table fellowship in celebration of Easter through the sacrament. Jesus continues to reveal himself in the breaking of the bread that has received his blessing (AUGUSTINE).
Jesus disappears from them, for from now on he will be possessed by faith in word and meal. Jesus continues to be recognized today in the breaking of the bread (AUGUSTINE). They experience burning hearts from the teaching of Jesus through the action of the Holy Spirit (ORIGEN). The wings of fire that create the burning hearts in the disciples are the flames of the divine Scripture as they were interpreted by Jesus (AMBROSE). The Lamb who has opened Scriptures for the Emmaus disciples is the cause of their burning hearts (ORIGEN). Faith goes on to create the fire of charity that now reigns in their hearts (AUGUSTINE). It is unclear whether these disciples meet with the eleven disciples to relate what had happened at the end of this day of resurrection or on the fortieth day when Jesus was taken up (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).
24:28-30 | The Breaking of Bread at Emmaus
BROKEN BREAD THE KEY TO OPEN EYES
EPHREM THE SYRIAN:
Even when the army
surrounded Elisha
a voice proved the key
to the eyes of the shepherd.
When the disciplesâ eyes
were held closed,
bread too was the key
whereby their eyes were opened
to recognize the omniscient:
saddened eyes beheld
a vision of joy
and were instantly filled with happiness.
HYMNS ON PARADISE 15.4.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD IS THE SACRAMENT
AUGUSTINE: And no one should doubt that his being recognized in the breaking of bread is the sacrament, which brings us together in recognizing him. LETTER 149. [1]
[1] FC 20:264.
JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
AUGUSTINE: Remember, though, dearly beloved, how the Lord Jesus desired to be recognized in the breaking of bread, by those whose eyes had been kept till then from recognizing him. The faithful know what Iâm talking about. They know Christ in the breaking of bread. It isnât every loaf of bread, you see, but the one that receives Christâs blessing and becomes the body of Christ. Thatâs where they recognized him. They were overjoyed and went straight to the others. They found whom they already knew. By telling what they had seen, they added to the gospel. It was all said, all done, all written down. And it has reached us. SERMON 234.2. [1]
[1] WSA 3 7:37*.
24:31-34 | The Recognition and Return to Jerusalem
JESUS DISAPPEARED
AUGUSTINE: The Lord Jesus was made known, and after being made known he appeared no more. He withdrew from them in the body, since he was held by them in faith. That indeed is why the Lord absented himself in the body from the whole church, and ascended into heaven, for the building up of faith. SERMON 235.4. [1]
[1] WSA 3 7:42.
CHRIST CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
AUGUSTINE: He blessed the bread, broke it, and they recognized him. Thatâs how you recognize Christâthose of you who believe he is the Christ. But your graces should consider what all the disciples were like before the Lordâs resurrection. I beg their pardon for saying so, but they werenât yet believers. They became great believers later on, but before that they were even inferior to us. We, I mean to say, believe that Christ has risen again, which they didnât yet believe. But afterward they saw, they touched, they went over him with eyes and hands, and in that way they believed, and their hearts were given strength from the holy Scriptures. So they drank, they burst forth, and they filled us up too. SERMON 236A.2. [1]
[1] WSA 3 7:47-48*.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSES THE HEARTS TO BURN
ORIGEN: Do you want me to show you how the fire goes out from the words of the Holy Spirit and ignites the fire the hearts of believers? ⌠And again in the Gospel it was written, after the Lord spoke to Cleopas, âDid not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?â Where will your burning come from? What âcoals of fireâ will be found in you who are never set on fire by the declaration of the Lord, never inflamed by the words of the Holy Spirit? Hear also in another place David himself saying, âMy heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned.â [1] HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 9.9.7. [2]
[1] Ps 39:3.
[2] FC 83:198.
THE FLAMES OF DIVINE SCRIPTURE
AMBROSE: Good then is love, having wings of burning fire, that flies through the breasts and hearts of the saints and consumes whatever is material and earthly but tests whatever is pure and with its fire makes better whatever it has touched. This fire the Lord Jesus sent upon earth. [1] Faith shone bright, devotion was enkindled, love was illuminated, and justice was resplendent. With this fire he inflamed the heart of his apostles, as Cleopas bears witness, saying, âDid not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?â Therefore the wings of fire are the flames of the divine Scripture. ISAAC, OR THE SOUL 8.77. [2]
[1] Lk 12:49.
[2] FC 65:60-61.
THE LAMB KINDLES THE HEARTS OF THE DISCIPLES
ORIGEN: This shows that we must not only employ zeal to learn the sacred literature but also pray to the Lord and entreat âday and nightâ [1] that the lamb âof the tribe of Judahâ may come and, himself taking âthe sealed book,â may deign to open it. [2] For it is he who âopening the Scripturesâ kindles the hearts of the disciples so that they say, âDid not our hearts burn within us while he opened to us the scriptures?â HOMILIES ON EXODUS 12.4. [3]
[1] Ps 1:2; Josh 1:8.
[2] See Rev. 5:5.
[3] FC 71:372*.
BURNING HEARTS FROM THE FIRE OF CHARITY
AUGUSTINE: Just as we are distinguished from others by faith, so let us also be distinguished by morals and by works. Let us be on fire with charity, which the demons never had. It is the fire those two also were burning with on the road. When Christ, you see, had been recognized and had left them, they said to each other, âDid not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?â Burn then, in order not to burn with the fire the demons are going to burn with.
Be on fire with the fervor of charity, in order to differentiate yourselves from demons. This fervor whirls you upward, takes you upward, lifts you up to heaven. Whatever vexations you suffer on earth, however much the enemy may humiliate Christian hearts and press them downward, the fervor of love seeks the heights. SERMON 234.3. [1]
[1] WSA 3 7:39*.
24:34-35 | The Faithful Response
THE EMMAUS DISCIPLES CONSULT WITH THE ELEVEN
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Cleopas, it says, and his companions rose up that same hour, the same of course in which Jesus had vanished out of their sight, and returned to Jerusalem. But it does not say that they found the Eleven gathered together that same hour and told them what had happened concerning Jesus. This took place on the fortieth day after his resurrectionâthe day on which he was also taken up. The Evangelist therefore has omitted the events which took place in the intervening time. It was then that Cleopas and his companion found the Eleven discussing in private and saying that the Lord was risen and had been seen by Simon. Regarding this appearance, there is no mention where or when or how this took place. It was during these days that the events in Galilee also took place, which Matthew has recorded. [1] COMMENTARY ON LUKE, CHAPTER 24. [2]
[1] See Mt 28:16-20.
[2] CGSL 617-18**.