Seeing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread

By Susan Klemond

“Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” ~Luke 24:31

Sometimes, I hear a homily I want to remember but don’t have a way to take notes. Or when I’m listening to something while doing the dishes, I can’t dry my hands fast enough to jot down a name or detail. I like to think I’ll remember, but often I don’t.

I’m not sure how the two disciples were feeling on the road to Emmaus as Jesus gave them what must have been the best scripture lesson ever. They were walking while they listened, and I’m sure they weren’t taking notes.

Before Jesus began explaining all the prophecies about himself, the disciples were excited to tell him the latest news about the Passion and Resurrection. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

Their hearts burned as Jesus spoke

Maybe the disciples felt a little foolish as Jesus connected all the dots of salvation history, and they realized, “This is so good we don’t want to forget it.”

They didn’t forget and said to each other on the way back to Jerusalem: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

Cleopas and his friend didn’t recognize Jesus as he shared the Word of God with them, but what the Lord told them must have prepared them to see him in the Eucharist. How much does the Liturgy of the Word help us enter into the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass so we can see Jesus in the breaking of the bread?

The Liturgy of the Word prepares us to see Jesus in the Eucharist

I don’t always pay enough attention during the Mass readings. Sometimes I’m distracted or don’t fully understand something that’s read. And not every homily explains the readings or makes me wish I could take notes. I don’t fault the priests for that.

Even when the Mass readings don’t fully capture our attention, we need to remind ourselves that Our Lord is speaking to us through them and through the priest who explains them.

Whether it’s the Beatitudes in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel or Jesus’ genealogy in chapter 1, we may find a new insight in reading scripture that’s worth writing down. It might not always make our hearts burn, but it will make us think.

Prayer

Lord, help me enter more deeply into your Word, both when it is proclaimed at Mass and during my own study. Let the scriptures open my heart to see you in the Eucharist.

Call to Action

Read the readings before Mass and meditate on them to prepare for meeting Jesus in the Eucharist. And bring a notebook and pen to Mass in case something jumps out at you!