From “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri Nouwen with Michael J. Christensen and Rebecca J. Laird
“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,” but as soon as they recognize him, he disappears from their sight. In the same moment as the two friends recognize him in the breaking of the bread, he is no longer with them. Precisely when he becomes most spiritually present to them, he also becomes physically absent. Here we touch one of the most sacred aspects of Eucharistic theology: the deepest communion with Jesus is a communion that happens in his absence. This is a mystery of faith. Christ is with us and yet we await his full return.
After Jesus vanishes from their sight, they ask each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Mysteriously, after this encounter in which their eyes and hearts are opened, the two disciples no longer need his physical presence to know that he remains with them. They can now “remember” him who dwells within them.
The miracle that happened with these two disciples is something that can happen to us today as well. Not long ago I had such an encounter. Certain events in my life were weighing heavily on me and pulling me into a depression. But God sent someone to me – an unexpected friend in whom I could easily put my trust. I shared with him the details of the events that caused my dark state of mind. He listened for a long time, and then gently showed me that I was on the same road as he, that I was being led through much pain to a new place. This new place was actually one that had been created in the gospel encounter between the two disciples and the stranger. When I opened my heart to this new reality, I was no longer an isolated and lonely individual who returns to the old place of his youth. I was no longer alone; I had found a friend, a companion, a voice of love. As I confessed, a heavy burden fell away from me. Later, when we had a meal together, I knew that God had sent his angel to me to offer me comfort and consolation and turn my despair to hope.
The great event on the road to Emmaus is the new communion. Someone listened, understood, and became a friend. The two lost disciples found a new place where the events that had led to sadness were being transformed into events that brought joy. They recognized that they were no longer alone. After breaking bread with them, Jesus vanished from their side because he no longer needed to be there with them. Now they knew him “by heart” and were set free to return to Jerusalem and bring the good news to others. There is reciprocity to receiving God’s presence. We are comforted and restored to offer comfort and restoration to another who is struggling on the road.