The first sentence of the gospel reading sets the context for the themes of today: ‘Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.’ Who is the Jesus that they recognised? And what does this recognition require?

Jesus is the servant of the God of the early ancestors, the long awaited messiah, and the innocent sufferer portrayed in the prophetic tradition. He is the fulfilment of our deepest aspirations. When we gather around the table for the sacramental meal, we encounter the Risen Lord. There the sacred traditions of our religious heritage are opened for us and we are enabled to recognise him in the traditions and in the breaking of the bread.

In order to encounter the Risen Lord in the breaking of the bread and in the breaking open of the word, we need docile hearts ready to embrace the deepest meaning of our religious heritage. We need hearts that have been purified in the love of God; hearts that have been totally transformed. The commandment of love requires nothing less.

Having recognised the Risen Lord, we, like the people described in the first reading, must live reformed lives. Having recognised the Risen Lord, we, like the people addressed in the second reading, must be obedient to God's commandment of love. Having recognised the Risen Lord, we, like the disciples portrayed in the gospel, must preach the good news of God's forgiveness to all nations. Easter faith assures us that all of this is possible. Peace be with you!