AUDIO MEDITATION:

Henry Ossawa Tanner (American, 1859-1937), The Pilgrims of Emmaus. Public domain.

FULL TEXT:

The story of Emmaus in today’s Gospel is well-known—we hear how the two disciples encounter the risen Lord as they walk but don’t recognize him until he breaks bread with them.

This painting captures that moment of recognition. The scene is flooded with divine light, and though its source is hidden, it brightly illuminates the table. From there, we see light reflected on the bread and the faces of Jesus and the disciples. This is an image of the Eucharist, where we recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread as we gather around his table, which brings light to our lives.

How might we deepen our participation at Mass this week so that the bread of life, the light of the world, might shine more brightly in our lives?