how to recognize jesus
“They had come to know Him in the breaking of bread.” —Luke 24:35
Reading the daily Mass Scriptures during the season of Lent is in essence an Emmaus walk with Jesus. During Lent, the Church breaks open many of the Scriptures which refer to the Messiah, and how He had to suffer (see Lk 24:25-27). Wouldn’t it have been a joy to have walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus? Though we long for our hearts to burn alongside the first disciples as Jesus opened the Old Testament Scriptures which referred to Him (Lk 24:27, 32), we have the same opportunity today. The Church proclaims to us many of those very Scriptures during the Masses of Lent and Holy Week.
The first disciples were likely familiar with some of those Scriptures. Much more familiar with these Scriptures were the chief priests, elders, and scribes, but they did not recognize Jesus (see Jn 1:26), just as the two disciples in today’s Gospel did not recognize Him (Lk 24:16). Their eyes were not opened until the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist (Lk 24:30-31).
During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Lord breaks open the Scriptures for us in the Liturgy of the Word and then breaks the bread in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This opens our eyes to recognize Him (Lk 24:35). To really gain an understanding of the Scriptures, come to Mass as often as possible, even daily. Recognize Jesus (Lk 24:31).
Prayer: Father, “I wish to know Christ” (Phil 3:10). Give me a supernatural hunger for the Eucharist, so I will come to know Jesus as the first Christians did (Lk 24:35).
Promise: “He remembers forever His covenant which He made binding for a thousand generations.” —Ps 105:8
Praise: “Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His name…sing to Him, sing His praise” (Ps 105:1-2).
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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