Today’s Gospel is the story of the two disciples who encountered Jesus on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of resurrection. They are deeply dejected and confused because the savior they had hoped would free Israel from slavery had been put to death. They had heard reports that the tomb was found empty, and women disciples had been told by an angel that Jesus was alive. How could this be? When Jesus appears in their midst, they don’t recognize him. He interpreted all of scripture to them, including how the prophets proclaimed that the Christ must suffer and enter into his glory. While the disciples still weren’t “getting it”, they were intrigued and so invited Jesus to stay with them. Then the pinnacle of the story occurs. As they dined, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and give it to them. With this, their “eyes were opened” and they recognized Him. Their Lord had truly risen. They now understood what Jesus was telling them through recounting of scripture and why their hearts had been “burning” as they listened. They went in haste to join the other 11 disciples who had already seen the risen Lord to tell what they too had witnessed. Are we often like these two disciples as we journey along our own path of faith? Do we too fail to see the Lord in our midst? Do we sometimes question whether He indeed rose from the dead? And do we really believe that He came not as a worldly king but as a savior to free us from our sins and replace it with love and forgiveness? And most of all, do we recognize and rejoice in the miraculous true presence of our risen Lord in Holy Communion at every Mass? As we ponder these questions, may these two disciples be our guides as we too journey on the way of faith.