The Road to Emmaus

There's a bit of a parallel between today's Gospel (the Road to Emmaus) and Adam and Eve in Genesis.

Let's look at Adam and Eve. The Fall happened because of "bad eating." The relationship with God was always optional and God made that clear with the ONE tree. Enjoy life here, or eat from the one tree. We could choose to live with God with its benefits and responsibilities OR we could chose ourselves. In the end, humans grasped at (went after) and ate the food that would elevate them to gods. They wanted to take from God for the sake of themselves, to raise themselves up. The result? They broke up with God and were so afraid of Him who loved them, that they disguised themselves and try to hide from Him. In the end, humanity left the garden, the holy place of perfect rest and contact with God.

The Road to Emmaus. Much like Adam and Eve, two disciples (who could be considered Cleopas and his wife, another husband and wife) leaving Jerusalem, which was known to be the holy city, the holy place to meet with God. But here are the REVERSALS: God disguised Himself in order to walk with them. Not to trick them, but to show them (and us) that God will do anything in our lives to be with us and teach us to come back to Him. Here the two disciples left Jerusalem after being confused and sad about the death of Jesus. But He came to them, walked on their journey the purpose of bringing them back. This happens all the time! Sometimes when we stray from God and walk away because we're confused or frustrated, there are events that make us think of Him and consider to love Him deeper. With the two disciples, Jesus disguised Himself to bring these two back to Jerusalem and the Catholic Church that they will participate in.

Then what happened? "Good eating" as opposed to Adam and Eve's "bad eating." Jesus reveals who He is through the breaking of the bread ... the same formula He used at the first mass at the Last Supper. The Eucharist is "good eating." It is a gift from God freely given in order to elevate us. As opposed to the "bad eating" of taking from God in order to elevate ourselves without His help.

As we are still away from the Eucharist, it's time to reset and study what we might have been doing each Sunday. Receiving the Eucharist out of habit or just because we're supposed to. It's time to think about, pray about, and study the Eucharist to see ... "what EXACTLY are You giving me here, God?" One priest friend of mine commented about how so many people he knows in his diocese are receiving with mortal sins on their souls ... could this universal time away from the mass have been from our Lord to ask us to reconsider what we're doing? This isn't accusatory, it's just a meditation. There is always mercy. There is always Confession (we're still doing it 4-5pm at Sacred Heart on Saturdays ... or call to schedule! We can go for a walk or I can set up outside).

As it looks like Nebraska might open up again soon, spread the word and meditate about the Eucharist with this weekend's readings and the parallel with Adam and Eve. These first humans grasped at life in order to take and elevate themselves despite God. However, the Eucharist is a free gift, given by God, in order for us to be elevated to Him if we willingly and worthily accept.