Catechism Corner | The Hidden Mass on the Road to Emmaus (Part 2 – ending)

The Liturgy of the Word

In response to their concerns and struggles the Lord breaks open the Word of God, the Scriptures. Not only does the Lord refer to Scripture but he interprets it for them. Hence the Word is not only read, there is also a homily, an explanation and application of the Scripture to the struggles these men have. Whatever struggles we may have brought to the Mass, the Lord bids us to listen to his Word as the Scriptures are proclaimed. Then the homilist interprets and applies the Word to our life.

After the homily we usually make prayers and requests of Christ. And so it is that we also see these two disciples request of Christ: Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over. (Luke 24:29)

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Christ does stay with them and then it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). The two disciples will refer back to this moment as the breaking of the bread at the last supper (Luke 24:35) A fascinating thing happens though: With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31). First note that it is the very act of consecration that opens their eyes.

Are we not to learn to recognize Christ by the very mysteries we celebrate? The liturgy and the sacraments are not mere rituals, they are encounters with Jesus Christ, and though our repeated celebration of the holy mysteries our eyes are increasingly opened if we are faithful. We learn to see and hear Christ in the liturgy, to experience his ministry to us. The fact that he vanishes from their sight teaches us that he is no longer seen by the eyes of the flesh, but by the eyes of faith and the eyes of the heart. So, though he is gone from our earthly, fleshly, he is now to be seen in the Sacrament of Eucharist, and experienced in the liturgy and other sacraments. The Mass has reached its pinnacle, for these two disciples and for us.

Dismissal Rite

Not able to contain their joy the two disciples run seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell their brethren what had happened and how they encountered Jesus in the breaking of the bread. They want to, have to, speak of the Christ they have encountered, what he said and what he did.

How about us? At the end of every Mass the priest or deacon says "The Mass is ended, go in peace." This does NOT mean, "OK, we're done here." What it DOES mean is: "Go now into the world and bring the Christ you have received to others. Tell them what you have heard and seen here, what you have experienced. Share the joy and hope that this Liturgy gives with others." You are being commissioned, sent on a mission to announce Christ to others.

So there it is, the Mass on the Move. The teaching is clear, the risen Lord Jesus is now to be found in the Liturgy and the Sacraments. It is for us only to have our eyes opened and to recognize him there.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.