Lk 24:13-35
13That very day [the first day of the week], two of [Jesus’ disciples] were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus... 15And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” ... “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene... 20how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel... 22Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. ... 25And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. 28As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. ... 33So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Emmaus: “Emmaus” comes from the Hebrew hamat which means “warm wells.” This Judean town, the destination of the two travelers, cannot be identified with certainty. At least four modern towns are vying for the honor: Latrun, Abu Ghosh, El-Qubeibah, and Qaloniya.
Whatever might have been the historical Emmaus, Luke’s message is clear. Three themes easily emerge. First, Jesus “interprets” the Scriptures. The Scriptures speak about him and find fulfillment in him. Second, the meal has the overtones of the Eucharist. We recognize the risen Jesus in the “breaking of the bread,” the early Christian name for the Eucharist. Third, after recognizing Jesus in Scriptures and in the Eucharist, the disciples are to go back and share their experience with the other disciples.