Reflection on the Real Presence

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I often meditate upon the post-resurrection narratives of Jesus for inspiration especially the passage from the Gospel of Luke 24.  According to Luke, there were two disciples that were going to Emmaus.  Some historians tells us that Emmaus was like a resort place.  


Nevertheless, the important thing to note is that they were going away from Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God because of the Temple's location.  In addition, that was where all the other disciples (the First Church) were gathered.  Some speculate that the two disciples were leaving town, or have given up on Jesus.  They were expecting a king like David, to root out the Roman Empire, and regain power.  Instead, all they got someone who died a criminal's death.  It seemed as if their hope was lost.  Jesus did not fulfill their expectation.  For them, Jesus turned out to be a fraud.

But along the way to Emmaus, Jesus accompanied them.  From Jerusalem to Emmaus was about a 7 mile journey.  And the whole time, Jesus accompanied them, but they did not know it was truly Jesus risen from the dead.  Jesus pretended that he didn't know what was happening, and they had to enlighten him.  They said to him: “Are you the only resident of Jerusalem who does not know the things that went on there these past few days?”  Jesus responded: “What things?”  They replied: “All those that had to do with Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet powerful in word and deed in the eyes of God and all the people; how the Chief Priests and leaders delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.  We were hoping that he was the one who would set Israel free.  Besides all this, today, the third day since these things happened, some women of our group have just brought us some astonishing news.  They were at the tomb before dawn and failed to find his body, but returned with the tale that they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive.  Some of our number went to the tomb and found it to be just as the women said; but him they did not see.” 

For the two disciples, Jesus seem oblivious to the happenings in Jerusalem, but they themselves were oblivious to whole salvific event.  Jesus had to explain to them: “What little sense you have.  How slow you are to believe all the prophets have announced.  Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into his glory?  Beginning, then, with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to him. 

Luke tells us that by now, they were arriving near the village, but Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  But they pressed him to stay: “Stay with us.  It is nearly evening—the day is practically over.”  So he went in to stay with them.    

When Jesus had seated himself with them to eat, he took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread, and began to distribute it to them.  With that their eyes were opened, and the recognized him; whereupon he vanished from their sight.    

The two disciples saw and they believe.  They said to one another: "Were not our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"  So they got up immediately and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and the rest of the company assembled.  

It is truly fascinating that although it was dark outside, and there was much potential to walk on the road to Jerusalem, they were not afraid to walk the seven miles back to Jerusalem to assemble with the others.  They were so filled with excitement that they saw Jesus breaking bread with them.  Notice that after the Breaking of the Bread, Jesus disappeared; But the bread remained with the disciples.  The bread remained with the disciples. 

Throughout my whole life, I never once dared to question the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  Not because I don't want to, but more so because of a fear what may happen; not because it will make the Real Presence less real, since God is unchanging, but because it will lead me down a confusing path other than the path that God intends, which is to know what Jesus did for us on Calvary that is re-presented to us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  It's truly amazing that Jesus was so humble enough to meet the two disciples on the journey; not to the destination that they were seeking and searching for, but so that their eyes are opened, and they can return home.

One Priest told me this: "If we all truly believe that Jesus is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharistic Bread, why would we even want to spend time away from Jesus and go somewhere else?  Do you believe that Christ’s presence is only symbolic and your actions portray that?  Or do you truly believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.