Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

The Third Sunday of Easter

The best kind of ‘heartburn’

April 6, 2008 :: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35

SISTER SALLIE LATKOVICH

We are given a favorite and familiar Gospel for our hearing this Sunday: the road to Emmaus. It is certainly a lovely post-Resurrection symphony, with five movements:

• Introduction of the two on the road, and their lack of recognition of Jesus who draws near and walks with them.

• Jesus poses the question, “What are you talking about?” The two reply by recounting the recent events in Jerusalem.

• Jesus then goes on to interpret for them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

• They reach the place to which they were going, and the two urge Jesus to stay. They come to recognize him in the breaking of the bread.

• They comment on their hearts burning within them and return to Jerusalem where they meet the eleven and others with them. They confirm that Jesus is risen indeed.

Familiar as it is, let us look closely at each “movement” as we “break open the word” which is the very purpose of this column.

That very day refers to the day of Resurrection; the first day of the week recalls the first day of creation. The resurrection of Jesus marks a new creation of life, eternal life, for us all. We know that one of the two disciples is named Cleopas, but there are, in fact, two on the road: Might it be his wife? Or another dear friend? Who travels most closely with us? With whom are we able to share the events of our lives and do some theological reflection? They are going to a village named Emmaus, and our English translation says that it is some seven miles from Jerusalem. Seven is the perfect number, taken from the number of days of creation. Thus, seven miles is the “perfect distance” for God’s revelation to take place.

Cleopas seems surprised that Jesus asks what they are talking about and, further, what things have been happening in Jerusalem. So Cleopas and his companion go on to recount the events — much like reading the Scriptures literally.

Jesus picks up on the conversation, charging the two with “slowness of heart.” They certainly recounted the events as they saw them; but perhaps were “slow” to move to the level of faith, the level where we hear with our hearts and perhaps even have a change of heart. Jesus goes on to interpret the Scriptures for them.

Arriving at Emmaus, it seems that Jesus only stays when he is invited. Do we invite him to dine with us? It was at table when Jesus took, blessed, broke and gave them the bread, that they recognized him. Something clicked — their eyes were opened, their slow hearts had been set on fire. After this powerful encounter, Jesus vanished from their sight, but certainly not from their experience.

In 1999, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published a pastoral plan for adult faith formation in the United States. This plan is titled “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.” For those who have experienced such “heartburn,” they will never forget. For those who have not experienced such “heartburn,” you have a transforming event awaiting you.

We join with those two on the road, with the eleven and others in Jerusalem, with the early church and with all believers since that time as we also proclaim that “the Lord has truly been raised.” To do so, we are called to be attentive to those who journey with us, for it may be Jesus. We are called to seek interpretation of the word of God in such ways that we get “heartburn.” We are called to wake up to Jesus as we break bread at our dinner tables at home and at our altar tables at church. And we are called to share our lives and faith with one another.

Sister Sallie Latkovich, Sisters of St. Joseph, is an assistant professor at the Blessed Edmund Rice School of Pastoral Ministry in the Diocese of Venice, a part of Barry University of Miami.

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