The story of the journey to Emmaus is essentially a story about the heart. As the two disciples made their way home, they were talking about Jesus. Just as we can’t stop talking about a loved one who has recently died, so they couldn’t stop talking about Jesus. Jesus had filled their lives with meaning, hope and joy. And now that he was dead, they were haunted by his absence.
As they set out on that journey, their hearts were cold and empty, heavy with sorrow, wounded by disappointment, and numb with grief. They had firmly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. But his death, and, in particular, the manner of it, had reduced their hopes to rubble. A humiliated, crucified Messiah!
It was impossible. It was unthinkable.
But then Jesus joined them and began to open their minds to the idea of a suffering Messiah. With the words of Jesus, light and warmth began to filter into their dark, cold hearts. By the time he revealed himself at supper, they were transformed. So much so that they immediately set off back to Jerusalem. Even though the night was dark, their hearts were bright. Even though their feet were heavy, their hearts were light.
What was it that happened to them? What did Jesus do for them? He certainly illuminated their minds - no question about that. But he did something better. He set their hearts on fire. "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Faith is very much concerned with the mind in so far as it has to do with truths, dogmas, doctrines, creeds, catechisms. But it is even more concerned with the heart. It consists in a relationship of love with the God who first loved us. Without this, faith is like a fireplace without a fire.
-Fr. John Kim