The Traveling Man

Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35

In this journey to Emmaus, Jesus gives the impression that he intends to walk further on, but they invited him to stay with them.  Herein lies the central action of the entire story for two reasons.  The first is that the disciples extended hospitality to a stranger.  In the act of providing this hospitality to someone who was unknown to them, they encounter in the breaking of bread the risen Jesus.  Had they not offered this hospitality to the stranger, they would not have known the risen Lord.  

The second point is that Jesus accepts this hospitality from the disciples.  He could very well have continued on his journey, but he chose to be among his people.  Herein lies the fundamental element of the incarnation - that God choses to be among the people.  God does not choose to be aloof and away from people, but instead is among us, though often we are unaware of that presence until we encounter the stranger, offer hospitality, and break bread with them.  

If we want to encounter the risen Lord among us, we will not do so shut away in an upper room distrustful of the world.  We will encounter the risen Lord in the garden of the empty tomb, in an encounter with a stranger for whom we provide hospitality and bread.  We cannot claim to know the Lord in the Eucharistic elements if we deny him in the stranger whom we distrust, despise, and denigrate.  The Lord calls us to be among his people in the world where he is.