The Gospel reading today is the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus from Luke 24. Please take the time to read it.
As Catholics, we believe that at Mass, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist. Today’s Gospel is assuredly a reference to this. The disciples recounted how “he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” This was not some sort of magical encounter where Jesus does his best David Copperfield impression. No, this was a Sacramental encounter where their eyes were opened to see Jesus in the Eucharist. What a moment that must have been!
Have you had that moment? Statistics say that a large percentage of Catholics see the Eucharist as a symbolic representation of Jesus. How sad! Have they read this passage of Scripture? It doesn’t say that he symbolically made himself known to them. No! He made Himself, His presence, His being, His very self known to them in the breaking of the bread! It all seems so clear…if you have ears to hear.
Father, for those who do not believe, we ask that Jesus will make Himself known in the breaking of the bread. And for those who do believe, strengthen our faith. Amen.
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I had an experience with Jesus in the Eucharist, but it was in a dream. It was during a pregnancy in which I experienced severe suffering, physically, mentally and emotionally. I had to quit working and was hardly able to eat at all. I went in to a depression and suffered severe panic attacks. I had a high level of anxiety. It hurt to walk so I spent most of the time resting on the couch. In my dream, I was in a church by myself. I saw the monstrance on the altar and there was a beautiful glow of light all around. Then I was suddenly infused throughout every single cell in my body of what I would describe as pure love. It was Jesus presence Everywhere! I remember jumping up and down feeling giddy saying over and over “It’s Jesus, It’s Jesus!” The funny thing is I had never really been to adoration that much! My feeling was similar to that of a small child who sees his daddy come home from being overseas, getting off the airplane…When I reflect on that dream now, years later I feel like He was telling me through the pain suffering…“you waited with me in garden and I showed up.”