The Two Disciples Recognized Jesus When Hearing Him Speak And Seeing Him Breaking The Bread (see Lk 24:13-35)
Dear Sisters
and Brothers in Christ,
The Gospel
story tells us that the two disciples of Jesus, who gave up their mission and
who went back to their everyday struggle for survival as ordinary people,
suddenly changed their mind after they met the Risen Lord. In fact, they regained their courage and
inspiration to continue their big dream of becoming witnesses of the Good News
of God’s merciful love convincingly shown to humanity through Christ’s
Suffering, Death and Resurrection.
This great
miracle happened to the disciples, and will certainly happen to us, because of
the following reasons:
First, the
Risen Lord out of His faithful promise that He would stay with us always even
up to the end of the times, came to them when they were lost in fear,
frustration and confusion. Christ will
surely show us His way when we have found no way to solve our problems, no
courage to face sad news, no means to escape danger, no hope to work, even no
joy to live.
Second, the
Risen Lord spoke to them the powerful Word of God which is the light of truth
to free them from the darkness of falsehood and death. When we read or listen to Christ’s teaching
we also meet Him Who is the Way the Truth and the Life so as to be able to
overcome all forms of evil.
Third, the
Risen Lord gave them the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation—the
celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and the reception of the Blessed Sacrament—to
satisfy their hunger and thirst for truth, justice, peace and love. Who but the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Savior, can give us such priceless gifts?
In this Holy
Mass, we are really blessed for having these gifts granted to us when we listen
to Christ’s Word and receive His Body and Blood.
Only if we
are ready to approach Him, or more exactly, open to Him approaching us.
Fr. Francis Nguyen, O.P.
