Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
"What are you discussing as you walk along?"
John 24:15-17
I watched my son's soccer game today in the 91 degree noon heat. Once they'd been out there for almost an hour, I noticed them all slowing down and as one player ran up behind their opponent, it was like watching them in slow motion as they struggled to keep the ball in the stifling heat. I remembered this Gospel passage and I wondered if it were this hot when the two men were on the seven mile road to Emmaus. They were conversing and debating, but unlike the soccer players this afternoon, these men were downcast as they retold the events of Jesus' death to none other than Jesus! The Risen Jesus is not recognized until later in the Gospel (Jn 24:31) and not until Jesus broke and blessed the Eucharistic bread. As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, let us be sure that the "noon day sun", like when our day gets turned around, if we feel overwhelmed as if we are moving in slow motion, or if we put ourselves under pressure to get something done and it's just not happening, that it doesn't make us unaware of the presence of Jesus in our daily lives.
