"When you approach the tabernacle remember that he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries."

"Ask Jesus to make you a saint. After all, only He can do that. Go to confession regularly and to Communion as often as you can," - St. Dominic Savio

Gospel text (Lk 24,13-35):

Two disciples of Jesus were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and wondering, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were held and they did not recognize him.

He asked, «What is this you are talking about?». The two stood still, looking sad. Then one named Cleophas answered, «Why, it seems you are the only traveller in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened there these past few days». And he asked, «What is it?». They replied, «It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel. It is now the third day since all this took place. It is true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; they came to tell us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Some friends of our group went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not see him». He said to them, «How dull you are, how slow of understanding! You fail to believe the message of the prophets. Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?». Then starting with Moses and going through the prophets, He explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, «Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over». So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but He vanished out of their sight. And they said to each other, «Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when He was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?».

They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: «Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!». Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.

Imagine that you’re cleaning junk out of an old relative’s house, and you suddenly discover a dusty painting that is really a valuable Renoir! You had pushed it aside plenty of times, not recognizing its value; yet suddenly looking at it with new eyes, you realize how priceless it really is.

In the school of the Eucharist, Jesus trains our eyes how to recognize him not only "in the breaking of the bread," but also in our daily lives, so that we don't miss the Lord interacting with us and speaking to us.

The beauty of the world is always before us, and we should always appreciate it. However, God also wants us to open our eyes to the veiled treasures he has hidden around us. He wants to teach us how to look more closely at the people we pass by every day and see how precious they are to the Lord. Imagine the healing, the restoration, and the peace that we can bring to this world as we see the beauty and glory present in each and every person around us!

The story of the disciples of Emmaus is useful as a guide to us in the long journey through a path of doubts, afflictions and sometimes even bitter disillusionments. Even though, at times, wrongly, we may think Jesus is not listening to us, He never forgets us.

It was when He broke the bread that those disciples at Emmaus realized it was Jesus who was sitting beside them. It was then their eyes were opened. If you still do not believe this story and are Catholic, allow me to place before you a challenge. Seek out a priest and go to confession, open up your enter heart and ask God for forgiveness. Following the confession, go to Mass and receive the Eucharist. Then tell me what you “see”?