Jesus feeds us with his word and his body and blood.  He makes us live and seeks to revive the faith of those who falter. 

For sure, Jesus did revive the hopes of those who longed to see their homeland free from the rule of Rome.  If he did not do so, the crowds would not have cried out, as he entered Jerusalem:  “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest heavens.”  And this, in turn, must have raised more his disciples’ hopes.

But it did not take long for such hopes to be dashed.  For Jesus seemed to have turned out not to be the Messiah.  He was but one who had been brutally beaten, suffered the most painful and shame-filled death one could imagine.

And so, two disciples, sad at such shocking turn of events, leaves Jerusalem.  They mean to get away from their feelings of being let down and of being at a loss.  Of not knowing where to go (it appears, it is hard to pin point the location of Emmaus).

But though they want to flee and forget, they still think of “the prophet mighty in deed and word.”  They talk about him and discuss what has happened to him.  And as they do so, he draws near and walks with them.  Yet they do not recognize him.  Soon enough, he opens the Scriptures to them and makes their hearts burn within them.  Hence, to say good-bye to him gets hard.  So, they ask him to stay.  And he stays just long enough for him to break bread with them and for them to recognize him.

The risen Christ is the one to revive the faith of those who falter and bring them back to communion.

So, the risen Christ does revive the faith of the disciples who are in need since they falter.  They go back right away to Jerusalem.  There, they are again with the eleven and the others who have stayed together.

No doubt, today’s gospel teaches that Christ is risen.  But it teaches us most of all how to revive the faith of those who falter.  The faith of those, too, who believe today though they have not seen.  For today’s world of science and technology makes fun of faith and deems it against reason.

And the way to revive the faith is by going to Jesus.  He feeds us with his word, and with his body and blood.  This means, of course, that we share on the Lord’s Day the table of his word and sacrament.  That we do not make a habit of staying away from our church assemblies.

But the proof that we live on Jesus’ word, and body and blood, is that we live so at home.  And in the small communities we are part of.  And that no one is poor, not just at home, but also in our small communities.  This comes, of course, with our being of one mind and heart.  And with our keeping in mind time and again that we live by his death and die by his life (SV.EN I:276).  As well as with our discerning the body of Christ in those who are poor and hungry.  In such a way that we gladly “leave God for God” (SV.EN IX:252).

Lord Jesus, you walked with your disciples on the way to Emmaus.  Walk with us, too, and revive our faith in times of doubt. 

23 April 2023
Third Sunday of Easter (A)
Acts 2, 14. 22-33; 1 Pt 1, 17-21; Lk 24, 13-35