The Pattern of Reality in the Risen Lord - Fr. Michael Flowers 4.30.23

Luke 24:39-49 Today we continue in Luke 24, with Luke’s final resurrection appearance. Last week, we reflected on how the risen Lord interacts with humanity. He appears to the fearful, the unbelieving, the sad and disillusioned on Emmaus Road. Emmaus road can be understood as a metaphor for humanity going the wrong way. These two disciples attended the first Holy week, witnessed the crucifixion and heard the testimony of the women that Christ had risen. They knew the facts but didn’t get the meaning of it all, the visible realm was obvious, but the invisible realm was closed. There are two ways of seeing, perceiving. The first way is familiar to all. Though born blind to true reality, we come into this world seeing the surface of things. Genesis 3:7 says, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” Like us all, these two on Emmaus Road were familiar with this way of seeing. It’s all humanity knows until the risen Lord reverses this limited way of seeing passed down from Genesis 3:7. Their eyes were opened to what? That they were naked, that they were ashamed, that they were afraid. Luke 24:31 is the reversal to Genesis 3:7: Verse 30 says, “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Verse 31, “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.” As they processed this encounter, they asked each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” The Scriptures become a sacramental portal into the mystery of Christ, the pattern of life, participating in his death and resurrection.