Imagine walking with the two disciples on the way back home to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). It was the day of the Resurrection, a mere three days after Jesus was crucified. He had indeed risen, as He had promised, but these two disciples had already given up hope. They were downcast and they had lost hope. Notice the past tense: “But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel” (21). How strange: they hoped, but gave up that hope, even when the women came back with news that Jesus was alive!
Jesus captured the reason for this immediately: they did not understand or have full faith in the Scriptures that spoke of Him. They could not comprehend the reason for His suffering. So in His mercy, He opened their eyes and hearts: “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” (26-27).
After Jesus fed His disciples with the bread of His Word, He fed them and revealed Himself in the Eucharist: “…while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight” (30-31). It was then that their hearts were lit on fire within them. Their hope was rekindled. Their eyes were opened. They understood why Jesus had to suffer and how death could not hold the “Author of Life” (Acts 3:15). After this encounter with Christ, their hearts, which had been slow to believe due to a lack of sight, were awakened to a new hope and lit with His light.
Jesus, when I am slow to believe in Your promises, help me encounter You in the Word and Bread of Life. Kindle in me the fire of Your faith, hope, and love.