Greetings on this the Third Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35
Personal Reflection (changing the order for today)
When I was in basic training back in 1975, and before they issued our first uniforms there we stood row upon row, in civilian clothes trying to comply with whatever the drill sergeant was bellowing out (using words that cannot be repeated here). One day, we lined up at the Barber Shop. He told us to look carefully at the person in front of you and behind you and study them so that when we come out again you can reassemble as before, row upon row, as assigned. After we got our hair cut we proceeded immediately to the adjacent uniform issuing room. Then outside to reassemble.
So everyone complied but as you can imagine we thought the order was weird. I mean I can SEE them just fine. Well, now that we were all shaved bald and in our first green uniforms with green caps, without name tags, literally we were at first indistinguishable.
The drill sergeant knew the outcome ahead of time so after a little time of us literally “ants searching for a bread crumb”, he bellowed: Line up in height order like before. THAT we knew how to do.
That is exactly what is happening in today’s Gospel.
We speak about it even in our Creed: …of all things visible and invisible.
Summary
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:16, 35).
The Visible
- crucifixion
- death
- burial
- empty tomb (even that is ambiguous)
- this is all they can “account for”
The visible begins to fail us. We need a new way of seeing.
We say we believe in what is visible and invisible… but we live most of our lives only trusting the visible.
The Invisible
- Resurrection
- glorification
- Christ’s new mode of presence
- this is real, but not yet accessible to them
The grief is the gap. The grief is what brings about the preventing from recognizing him.
And until the invisible is revealed, grief fills the space.
Until he walks with them.
Grief does not disappear, it is transfigured by revelation and presence. Because what God has done cannot be seen the way you expect.
They were not wrong about what they saw.
They were incomplete about what had happened.
The gospel story we proclaimed today, is the recounting of the encounter with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus.
There is a gap between recognizing and knowing. There is Joy in retelling and recounting.
Jesus gives them a different way of knowing, by way of
- Presence
- Scripture
- Breaking of the bread
Reflection
It would be tragic (although some do) to reduce the Holy Mass to simple table service, a common meal. It is way beyond that and the story of the Road to Emmaus asserts that quite clearly. Knowing Jesus, in the fullest sense, is to know him in the Eucharist.
Deep Dive on Encounters from the Road: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/wp-1761629668484.pdf
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041926.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry