ACC ~ Luke 24 v31 - 34

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. That’s how you recognize Christ—those of you who believe he is the Christ. But your graces should consider what all the disciples were like before the Lord’s resurrection. I beg their pardon for saying so, but they weren’t 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 didn’t 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, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Where will your burning come from? What “coals of fire” 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, “My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned.” [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, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 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 “day and night” [1] that the lamb “of the tribe of Judah” may come and, himself taking “the sealed book,” may deign to open it. [2] For it is he who “opening the Scriptures” kindles the hearts of the disciples so that they say, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he opened to us the scriptures?” 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, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 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*.