Sunday Inbox Inspirations
Third Sunday of Easter
Cycle A
April 23, 2023
Emmaus and Eucharist
Maybe we have never thought of it this way, but today’s gospel helps us to appreciate the Mass.
There are five moments or steps in this Emmaus story, and we have these same moments or steps in the celebration of the Eucharist. Let’s take a look at these.
1. Loss
The first moment is what we can call loss.
The two disciples walking to Emmaus are talking about what has happened to Jesus. They have suffered a great loss, and they feel very disappointed.
I believe that in some way, we can all identify with their loss. The loss I am thinking of here is that at some times we lose the ways of God, or maybe we feel that God has left or abandoned us.
And so, usually right at the beginning of Mass, we express this loss when we say, “Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.” With these words, we confess our need for God’s assistance or forgiveness in dealing with this loss.
2. Presence
That admission of loss opens us to the second moment in our celebration of Mass, and this is presence – the presence of God in the Word.
Traditionally, we think of Jesus being present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. But the Emmaus story tells us that Jesus is first present to the two disciples in the Word as he breaks open the Scriptures to them.
The same thing happens here at Mass. The Eucharistic presence is first a presence of God in the Word.
God is present here – sometimes comforting us, maybe challenging us, and often motivating us. So, just as Jesus is present in opening up the Word on the way to Emmaus, he is also present here at Mass in the Word.
3. Invitation
Then, touched by this presence of Jesus, we come to the third moment in our celebration of Mass, and this is invitation.
The disciples on the road to Emmaus invite Jesus to stay with them. We also need to do that here at Mass.
I suggest we do this when we offer the Profession of Faith and when we bring the bread and wine to the altar. In the Profession of Faith, we affirm Jesus’ presence in the Word that we have heard.
And in the presentation of the bread and wine, we are saying that we want him to stay and that we even want more of his presence. These are our ways of inviting Jesus to be present.
4. Communion
That takes us to the fourth moment in our celebration of Mass, and this is Communion.
Jesus stays with the two disciples in Emmaus, but he reverses things and, in effect, he becomes their host at the meal. He does what he did at the Last Supper and gives himself to them in the bread and wine.
So, here at Mass, as soon as we invite Jesus to stay with us, he becomes our host and offers us the sacrament – the gift of Holy Communion. In fact, maybe this is why Jesus left the earth and returned to the Father.
Through Communion he can be even closer to us, so close to us that there is nothing between us. We have this intimate communion with him in the Eucharist and yet, this is not quite the end.
5. Mission
Communion leads to the fifth and last moment in our celebration of Mass, and this is mission.
The two disciples at Emmaus immediately go and tell the others about their experience with the risen Jesus. We are to do the same thing.
This is why we conclude Mass with words like, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” So, the final moment in Eucharistic life is mission.
We are to bring the presence of Christ to the lost and broken spaces of human life. We are to live out of the light and hope of Easter.
Conclusion
So, I see this Emmaus story as rich!
It is a great teaching about the Eucharist! From 1) loss to 2) presence to 3) invitation to 4) communion to 5) mission – this is what the Mass is all about.
Fr. Michael Schleupner
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