Recognize Jesus in the Eucharist

April 19, 2026

In this week’s Gospel we have one of the most compelling of the Easter Resurrection stories, the road to Emmaus. It takes place on that first Easter Sunday. Two of Jesus’ disciples are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a nearby village. One or both of them live there. Like all of the disciples, they are shocked and horrified over the events of the previous days. And they are filled with grief over the death of Jesus.
   
“What shall we do now? We staked everything on Jesus. We have left our jobs. We have alienated many of our family and friends. What do we do?”

At that moment, Jesus joined them, asking what they were discussing. They told him they were talking about the events that just happened in Jerusalem and the execution of Jesus. “We had hoped that He was the Messiah.”

We are told that Jesus explained all the Old Testament passages that explained that the Messiah must suffer and die. How we would love to hear that message ourselves! Their hearts were burning within them as He spoke. Coming to a house, they invited Him to remain with them and eat dinner with them. As they ate, He took bread, broke it, and gave it to them, and did the same with the cup of wine. “They recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.”

The Church has always seen this event as a form of the Mass. Jesus breaking open the Scriptures is the Liturgy of the Word and recognizing Him in the breaking of bread is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
   
Why did He disappear? Because we, too, are to recognize Him in the breaking of bread and do not see Him in His physical form. He is as truly present in the form of the Blessed Sacrament as if He stood before us.
   
Jesus is Risen. He is with us.
—Fr. Mike Comer