Journey to Emmaus

A Gospel drama based on the journey to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35

Narrator: After his death and resurrection Jesus joined two disciples on their journey of disappointment and despair as they walked away from Jerusalem towards Emmaus. (Two appear walking along dejectedly talking to each other.) They saw Jesus but somehow did not recognise who he was.

Jesus: What are you talking about so seriously as you walk along?

Disciples: (sadly)

(1) Don’t you know what’s been going on in Jerusalem these past few days?

(2) You must be the only one who doesn’t!

Jesus: What things?

Disciples: (1) About Jesus of Nazareth!

(2) We thought he was the answer, a man of God, powerful in what he did and said …

But our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death …

…and he was crucified. Yes, that was the end of our hopes that he was the one to set Israel free!

And it is now three days since it happened.

Some of the women of our group did surprise us. They went at daybreak to the tomb but they couldn’t find his body.

(2) They came back with a story of seeing a vision who told them Jesus was alive …

(1) Some of the group went to the tomb and found it exactly as they said …

But they didn’t see Jesus.

Jesus: Now look, can’t you see how things really are ..? You’ve got the facts there … What you need is another way of seeing them so that you understand! See, I’ll help you … (Walk along slowly, talking and gesticulating, stopping, then walking on …)

Narrator: And so Jesus explained to them the meaning of what had happened, using the scriptures from Moses to the present. As they came near the village Jesus seemed as if he was going on further:

Disciples: (1) Stay here with us!

(2) Yes, the day’s nearly over, it’ll soon be dark.

(1) Come in with us!

(They go in and mime as narrator continues.)

Narrator: So Jesus went in with them. He sat down to eat with them, took the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Immediately the blindness fell from their eyes and they recognised him, but he disappeared from their sight.

Disciples: (To each other)

(1)    Wasn’t it like fire burning inside us when he talked to us on the road …

(2) And explained everything to us! We should’ve known then!

(1)    Let’s go and tell the others back in Jerusalem how we recognised the Lord when he broke bread for us! (Go off joyfully).

Commentator: Just as Jesus walked beside these two disciples in their journey of loneliness and disappointment, so he walks beside us, too. Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus we don’t always recognise him. Luke shows us two sure ways of encountering the Risen Jesus: in the Word of God when it is broken open for us to understand it, and in the Eucharist, the community breaking of the bread. This Easter may we recognise Jesus the Lord and realise his presence in our midst.  (Text by Sr Joan Parker RNDM)

FROM LIFE TO FAITH AND FAITH TO LIFE

This story of The Two Disciples on their Way to Emmaus is a powerful example of the teaching method of Jesus. The General Directory for Catechesis states that catechists should imitate the “pedagogy” of Jesus – The Master Catechist. Jesus constantly engages the ordinary events of people’s lives; farmers sowing seeds, women at the well, fishermen throwing their nets, housewives baking bread. He got them to reflect on their lives and come to a personal conviction about their faith.

When Jesus joined the two disciples on the road, he put this question to them, What are you talking about so seriously as you walk along?

Disciples: Don’t you know what’s been going on in Jerusalem these past few days? You must be the only one who doesn’t!

Jesus: What things?

No one knew better than Jesus all that happened during the past week. Yet, He listened attentively as they shared their experiences, feelings and sadness about the crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Challenge to catechists

As a catechist, do you begin your lesson by inviting your students to share and reflect on their own experiences of the topic you are teaching?

CATECHESIS

Jesus explained to them the meaning of what had happened by using every Scripture passage that referred to Himself from Moses to the present. Their hearts were burning inside them when He talked to them on the road.

Challenge to catechists

When you share our Christian Faith story with your students are their hearts burning within them by the way you present the message? Do they come to appreciate their Faith more?

Are they growing into a deeper relationship with Jesus?

The two disciples pressed Jesus to stay with them. They offered Him hospitality. When at table He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them and they immediately recognised Him and He vanished.

Challenge to catechists

While the catechesis on the road was very important, it was in the breaking of bread that they recognised him.

How will good catechesis help our students to recognise and appreciate the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?

The two disciples hurried back to Jerusalem to join the community and share the Good News of Jesus Resurrection.

Are we sending forth into the community young evangelisers on fire to share the Good News with other youths? –