Today’s Gospel reading is from Luke and is about Jesus appearing to two disciples who are unable to recognize Him. Bishop Barron explained in his homily this morning that this passage can be used as a reference for what it takes to evangelize today. People that are walking the wrong way need the process of accompaniment, teaching, and Eucharist to return to walking the right way. It’s about the Mass, it’s the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist, through this Jesus becomes present and available to us.

“In a way you could read all of Christianity off of this account. If I were teaching the Christian faith, I might just use this as my frame of reference”.

Bishop Robert Barron, Daily Mass Homily referring to this passage.

Here’s a further summary of how Bishop Barron explained what is occurring and how it is easily applicable to what is going on today:

Cleopas and the other disciple are walking away from Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the center of attention in Luke’s chapter, the major events of Jesus are happening there. The two of them walking away is a great symbol of a lot of people in our modern times who know about Jesus, but for whatever reason they are wandering away from Him and walking in the wrong direction.

In this account from Luke, we see Jesus accompanying them as they walk away from Jerusalem, in the same way He will for us whether we are walking toward Him or walking away from Him. Jesus doesn’t stop them in their tracks or start lecturing immediately to them, but he walks and identifies with them.

The disciples are speaking about the information that they know about Jesus, and they have all the events right but they don’t understand what all these events and information mean. Again looking at where we are today, many people will probably have a good idea about the main events concerning Jesus, but as they walk in the wrong direction and do not have the proper formation, they’re not going to truly understand Him.

After some time of walking and learning about what the disciples know, Jesus bluntly calls them out for not fully understanding what has happened and explains to them using the Bible what it all means. Essentially, the entire Bible / Old Testament is all about Him (Jesus), it’s an entire lead-up to Him. Jesus then reveals Himself to them through the Eucharist through the blessing and breaking of bread.

This passage ends with the disciples becoming believers and turning around to walk back to Jerusalem. They go to the Apostles which at that time is the Church, and they join their mission.