Did Not Our Heart Burn?

The Story

On the Sunday after Jesus was crucified, two of His followers were walking from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles away. They were talking about everything that had happened, and they were heartbroken.

A stranger joined them on the road. It was Jesus, but they didn’t recognize Him.

“What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”

One of them, named Cleopas, was amazed. Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard? They told Him about Jesus of Nazareth, a mighty prophet, who had been crucified. “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.” Some women had even said His tomb was empty and angels said He was alive. But they didn’t know what to think.

Jesus said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them everything the Scriptures said about Himself.

When they reached the village, He acted as if He would go farther. They begged Him, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening.”

At the table, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him. And He vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

That same hour, they got up and walked all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others.

Reflection