Behind the Scene

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Friar Musings

In the gospel reading for today we share the story of the two disciples on that first Easter heading home discouraged by the events that had unfolded with the death of Jesus. By the time that Cleopas and his unnamed companion had walked with Jesus the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, the evening darkness had descended upon them. When Jesus acted as if he would continue walking, they implored him, “stay with us, for the day is almost over.” And so they had dinner at Emmaus.

During the day the men hadn’t recognized the resurrected Jesus, but at dinner “their eyes were opened” in the breaking of the bread and they understood what had happened. They immediately returned to Jerusalem and told how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. They added their testimony to the earlier testimony of the women who’d visited the empty tomb.

Continue reading →

Emmaus

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Friar Musings

Making Sense

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Friar Musings

There are so many things we hope for – things great and small. Just saying the phrase, “I hope that…” It’s optimistic, positive, buoyant, and upbeat. But perhaps the three saddest words in our lives, words that we hear in today’s gospel, are. “We had hoped….” For these travelers, it is “we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” “We had hoped,” but those hopes were dashed upon the wood of the cross and buried in a tomb. Now they are walking away from the rumors of Resurrection in a slow descent into despair. For years, the power of God had seemed so close. The disciples saw the miracles, heard the preaching, saw Lazarus emerge from the tomb, and so much more. Now those hopes lay buried in the tomb. “We had hoped…” Continue reading →

The Community Rejoined and United

Posted on April 22, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter and our gospel is the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The final movement of the Emmaus story returns the two disciples to Jerusalem and serves as a transition to the appearance there. Jerusalem is the focus of Luke’s geographical scheme throughout Luke and Acts. The Gospel begins and ends in Jerusalem, and the journey to Jerusalem dominates the record of Jesus’ ministry. In Acts the mission of the church begins in Jerusalem, and Paul returns there at regular intervals. Continue reading →

At The Table With Jesus

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter and our gospel is the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. “ As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29 But they urged him, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.” (Luke 24:28-29) Continue reading →

Scripture fulfilled

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter and our gospel is the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The two disciples have explained to their fellow traveler (Jesus unrecognized) the cause of their disappointment and discouragement. It is then Jesus again speaks: “And he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.” (Luke 24:25-27) Continue reading →

A stumbling block

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter and our gospel is the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. So far in this account it is the two disciples who are recounting the details of all the things that have taken place there in these days? (v.18) The disciples are distressed by the death of Jesus and cannot believe that the event that has shaken their world is not known by another pilgrim. Continue reading →

Unable to see

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter and our gospel is the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke sets the scene with markers of time (that very day), place (on the road between Jerusalem and Emmaus) and situation – two disciples who earlier had been with the disciples, heard the women’s testimony and apparently discounted their testimony as idle wistfulness. The community of believers has been fractured. As it recounts in v.17, the “looked downcast.” Continue reading →

What we carry, what we bring

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Friar Musings

Today’s gospel is the well know and wonderfully told account of the two travelers on their way to Emmaus on the later afternoon of that first Easter Sunday. They are on their way home with hopes dashed: the one they thought the Messiah has been executed and is now entombed with the dead. They journey with fear, uncertainty, and a whole range of other emotions and worries. Not unlike us. And Jesus journeys with them. As he does with us. Continue reading →

Emmaus & Jerusalem

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Easter, Year B. You can read an complete commentary on the reading here:

³⁵Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. ³⁶While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” ⁴⁰And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

⁴¹While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of baked fish; ⁴³he took it and ate it in front of them. ⁴⁴He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. ⁴⁶And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day ⁴⁷and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Continue reading →

friarmusings

the musings of a Franciscan friar…

Tag Archives: Emmaus