—Gospel of Luke 24:13–35

Have you ever thought of yourself as a pilgrim?

A pilgrim is one who is on a journey of discovery, usually to a place of special significance. Christians and Jews make this journey to Jerusalem, Muslims make the journey to Mecca. They all have one thing in common, they are on a journey to discover more about themselves and their faith.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus could be described as pilgrims on a marvelous journey of discovery. When they set out on their journey, they were wracked by doubts and confusion about Jesus, their Master, who was put to an ignominious death. They were devastated by what had happened to Him. Along the road, as they were pondering these things, they were joined by a mysterious stranger. He engaged them in conversation about the scriptures, and opened their minds to understand that Jesus had to undergo everything that happened to Him. They were so taken by this mysterious stranger’s explanations that they invited Him into their home for a meal.

It was after this act of hospitality of inviting the stranger into their home for a meal that they recognized who He was. They recognized Jesus in ” the breaking of the bread.”

We are like the two disciples in today’s scripture who recounted their story of discovery to the other disciples. Our journey through life is really a pilgrimage of faith. On the way we learn a lot. We meet some wonderful and not-so-wonderful people. We see extraordinary and awful things. We make lots of mistakes and experience life in a myriad of ways we could never have imagined. But many have made the trip before us and many walk beside us. We are never alone. Jesus is our constant companion whether we are aware of it or not. Let us make the most of this journey for it is an adventure of a lifetime, an adventure of discovery.

The story of these two disciples who encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, and who recognized Him in “the breaking of the bread,” and who rushed back to where the rest of the disciples were to tell them all about it, is also our story.

Pilgrimage is the favorite theme of St. Luke’s entire gospel. At the beginning of his gospel, Jesus begins His ministry by instructing His disciples along the road (Luke 9:51). On the road to Emmaus, as we have seen, Jesus also instructed the two disciples (Luke 24/13-35). And, the journey reached its climax when they were seated at table after a long day’s walk. There, at table, the two pilgrims finally “get it.” They finally found what they were looking for and they understood the meaning of their pilgrimage. They recognized Jesus “in the breaking of the bread.”

The whole of God’s intricate design in the lives of these pilgrims had been worked out in Jesus who opened up the scriptures to them while their hearts were burning inside them.

“What little sense you have,” says Jesus.

He is talking to you.

If you want to journey on the pilgrimage of faith, you must be open and receptive to the surprises that God has in store for you along the road. Being a pilgrim in search of truth means opening your minds to the Scriptures and recognizing that Christ is your constant companion through life. He is your companion in so many ways: by meditating on the Scriptures, by raising you up when you are brought low, by strengthening and enlightening you with His gifts of faith, hope, and love, by offering encouragement to fellow pilgrims, by helping a needy person, by absorbing a sermon, by sharing in the Eucharist: “the breaking of the bread.”

Here, on our journey through life, we meet Jesus like the pilgrims to Emmaus. He is our companion even when we don’t recognize Him. Here, on our journey, is where Jesus becomes the Way, the Truth, and the Life for us.

We develop insights in our journey about the presence of Jesus in our lives with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and link up with other pilgrims so that we don’t have to make the journey alone.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy