believing is seeing
"He took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; whereupon He vanished from their sight." —Luke 24:30-31
Notice that Jesus did not cease being present to the Emmaus disciples. The text merely says that "He vanished from their sight" (Lk 24:31); it doesn't say that He stopped being present to them. The risen Jesus can be present to all, whereas before His death Jesus was only present to those physically with Him.
The disciples at Emmaus "recognized Him" in the breaking of the bread, that is, in the Eucharist (Lk 24:31, 35). In the Eucharist, "their eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (Lk 24:31). By their open eyes of faith, they knew He was always with them (Mt 28:20). They no longer needed to see His body, since they had received His body.
In His public ministry, Jesus impacted only a localized geographical area in Palestine. In His risen ministry, miles of territory, locked doors, and death are no longer barriers to Him. The risen Jesus has no obstacles except our doubts (see Jn 20:25; Mt 28:17, RNAB). The Eucharist challenges us to recognize Jesus as He really is. It's a risen Sacrament. Our eyes see bread and wine. But we "come to know Him in the breaking of bread" (Lk 24:35).
Come to Mass as often as possible, even daily. "See" the risen, eucharistic Jesus. "Walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7).
Prayer: Risen Jesus, without faith I can't please You (Heb 11:6). Like Peter and John, help me to step out in acts of faith (Acts 3:6).
Promise: "He interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to Him." —Lk 24:27
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who is recognized in the breaking of the bread, the Mass!
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 27, 2005
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