The Emmaus Grace

Lk 24:13-35

 

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate hope of the world and the most powerful resurgence of humanity. On the road to Emmaus, however, we see two downcast men even though they were followers of Christ and it was after His resurrection. They had a high regard to Jesus of Nazareth: “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people…. we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”(19b-21) But their excitement, hope and trust now turned to discouragement, despair and distrust, because “The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.”(20) Now it is all over, they regarded.

2. These two followers of Christ, Cleopas and his companion, represent many Christians who are still living discouraged and downcast in spite of the resurrected Jesus. It is because they did not encounter the resurrected Lord personally and really. Jesus cared those downcast disciples and approached them on the road to Emmaus. Their encounter with the resurrected Jesus totally changed their face, heart, and life. It is the wonderful grace of Emmaus that we need always. We need to accompany with the resurrected Lord and His Spirit always.

3. What is the Emmaus grace? First, it is the disillusionment of our ego for reality and truth. When Jesus approached them, “they were kept from recognizing him.”(16) When Jesus gave them the grace of Eucharist, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”(31) Even though we see the same thing, everybody sees it differently. Children often do not see what their parents clearly see. Jesus said that “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”(Mt 13:13) The spiritually blind are guilty because of their false pride: “Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”(Jn 9.41)

4. What makes people blind? Most of all, the self-sufficient and self-closed pride of sinful humanity blocks their vision to see the real world outside: “You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”(Rev 3.17) Next, self-centered egoism and its deep-rooted distrust and hate of other people also hinder clear vision: “Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”(1Jn 2.11) It is definitely shown when people reject the gospel of Christ: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”(2Cor 4.4) For it is the rejection of everything except oneself, even one’s Creator, Redeemer, and Ruler. He is so blind not to see anybody better and higher to respect and follow. He is so blind not to see the reality of himself as a mere creature. As a matter of fact, he is in darkness and therefore unable to see. Jesus came to the world to make the blind see: “He has sent me to proclaim… recovery of sight for the blind.”(Lk 4.18) As soon as the blind sinners welcome the Light of the world Jesus Christ, they will clearly see how poor they are and how great God is. The whole universe will be changed and they will see the way how they should live. Their eyes will be opened and see the reality and truth around them. However beautiful and fantastic it is, worldly illusions are false, deceptive and meaningless. We need disillusionment from false view of life and world. For this disillusionment, we have to pray God: Open my eyes so that I could see!

5. Second, it is the heart burning touched by the warm heart of Christ. Those two disciples remembered the wonderful encounter: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”(32) To believe in Christ is not simply knowing something about Him but primarily feeling His love for us. The resurrected Jesus does not ask to us, “Do you know me?” but “Do you love me?” He asked this question to Peter three times repeatedly. Our fundamental question to our spouse or children or friend is the same question, because it is the most important of all. Our heart may not be cold but warm, even burning. We, selfish egoists, are not qualified to be loved by somebody. But God is gracious that he gave us somebody to love us with his or her life. It is unbelievable but it is true, even though human love is imperfect. We have to live with burning heart. If we are loved, we have to love back. Love is the supreme value and power of all our possession. More than anything else, seek for love and give the highest regard to love. If you fail in love, your life is failure, whatever you possessed and achieved.

6. God is love. God loves you! It is the Gospel of Christ. It is not easy thing for God to love such a rebellious and sinful wretch like you. But God decided to love you, and it is clearly expressed through His Son Jesus Christ who was suffered and crucified for you. Believe it! It is true. His love for you is true and genuine. Do not despise and reject His love. Do not make His love one-sided. Just like a human love, one-sided love is painful and until the other accepts the love it is not really felt. Love is magical. As soon as you believe and accept His love, you will feel His love and respond with your love. Your heart will be overfilled by His love, and it will be burning heart with love. The hearts of those two disciples was burned by the message of divine love and they returned to Jerusalem to love Him.

7. How can our heart be touched by the heart of Christ and become a burning heart? We have to hug him, heart to heart! As we find here, we can meet the loving heart of God in the Scripture. The theme of the whole Scripture is the love of God in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful love poem and powerful love letter of God for us! Therefore, if we read only the letters and knowledge of the Scripture, it is useless and we cannot encounter His loving heart. Open your heart to the Word of God and read it with feeling and thanking His love and your heart will be touched and even burned by the heart of Christ. When you worship and praise, open your heart to the Lord and His loving heart will touch yours through the open channel of your heart. It is the hugging Christ and touching His heart! It happens also in the Eucharist, prayer and your act of loving the needy neighbors. But always the secret here is to open your heart for Christ! Also for those who love you, open your heart and hug them, heart to heart and your heart will be warmed and even burned! We sinner’s heart naturally becomes colder and colder and therefore we need continuous hugging with the hearts of those who love you.

8.  Jesus rebuked them: “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”(25) Yes, we are foolish and slow of heart to believe the love of God. You are suffering because you distrust and even reject those who really love you. Life is lonely and hard. You need love, and to be loved you should open your heart to them. You are hurt here and there. Your souls are seriously wounded and poor, though you pretend well. Yes, we need the Emmaus grace everyday. In this cold world, we need to be touched by the burning heart of Jesus everyday. Then, with our burning heart we would be able to touch other cold hearts! May God bless you with the ever-burning heart everyday touched by the resurrected Lord! Amen.