3rd Easter - Fr. Leo
The two disciples on the road to Emmas did not recognize the Lord walking with them. But this “stranger” captivated them. Through Him, they were gaining insight into the meaning of Jesus’ death as fulfilled in the resurrection. Their hearts burned within them and they didn’t want Him to leave. They begged him to stay with them. This hunger for God’s revealing presence was fulfilled at the moment He took bread, said the blessing and gave it to them.
In that instant their faith is re-born. They know in that moment as only true faith knows, that Jesus Christ has dispelled all darkness of error and doubt. Their faith is rekindled, as they race back to share their experience with the disciples in Jerusalem.
When we celebrate the Liturgy of Word and Sacrament, we hear God’s voice through the scriptures as the disciples did on the road. When we break bread, the same Lord is present among us, as with them. In faith, we receive and commune with God and become one as God’s people filled with God’s uncreated energy that inspires us to go forth and bring this great gift to all.
It is sad that we can’t gather to celebrate God’s presence and feed upon the bread that is God himself. Sad that we can’t raise our voices together in a chorus of praise that exalts the almighty and brightens the Lord’s light in all things. However, the fact that we can’t gather does not mean that Christ isn’t present to us, because He is!
Christ is in all things. All things exist because he sustains them in every moment. Each breath we breath is God’s gift given constantly and continually. We not only exist by grace, through faith we become aware of God’s dwelling in us.
A sign of God’s presence in us is a love that comes to recognize Christ in all things. To see him in every created thing no mater how small or seemingly insignificant. And as grace grows, we come to love even our enemies, or those who irk us, because they too have some need in them calling out for love. We may not see things the way they do or agree with them, but the working out of differences, on both sides, is tempered by our faith in the love of God that dwells in all beings. Love makes one that which is broken, and heals that which is in need of love, by love.
In faith this love lives in us making us a source of love for others. This is the meaning of breaking the bread of our lives together, and we can keep this alive in our prayer at home so that when we gather again, a brighter light of resurrection may shine, and our rejoicing be made full. Commune with the God within you and you will come to commune with him in all creation. This is the gift of Eucharist, God living in us and we in God who makes us all one in love.