Jesus is Known in the Breaking of Bread
A meditation and prayer on the fifth Station of the Resurrection.
Meditation: The revelation of Jesus in the breaking of bread at Emmaus is a powerful testament to how Christ makes Himself known in ordinary, everyday moments. As the disciples sat at table with this seeming stranger, their eyes were opened through a simple, familiar act—Jesus breaking bread. This moment transcends time and place, echoing into our lives as a reminder that Jesus is continuously present in the mundane as well as the miraculous. It invites us to look for Christ in the regular patterns of our days, understanding that every meal, every shared table, can become a place of divine revelation.
Reflect on the significance of shared meals in your own life. Consider how these moments of fellowship can become sacred encounters, spaces where the spiritual and physical intertwine, revealing Christ among us. Think about how Jesus used a common meal to reveal His resurrected self to His followers, and how He continues to invite us to recognize Him in our daily bread, in our gatherings, and in our communities.
This narrative also invites us to consider the transformative power of hospitality and community. The disciples invited Jesus into their home, extending hospitality to a traveler on the road. It was within the context of this hospitality, this opening of their home and table, that they came to recognize the Risen Lord. This act of sharing not only a meal but their space, serves as a model for us, suggesting that when we open our homes and lives to others, we also open ourselves to encounters with God.
Moreover, the Emmaus story underscores the importance of the Eucharist in Christian life. Just as the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread, so too are we called to see Him in the Eucharist, in which the bread and wine are His body and blood. This sacramental encounter is a profound experience of Jesus’ promise to be with us always, nourishing and sustaining us spiritually.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the simplicity of a shared meal, You made the glory of the Resurrection known to the disciples. Help us to find You in all moments of communion, both sacred and everyday. Teach us to extend hospitality and to open our tables and our hearts to others, as through these acts we may come to see Your face. May our participation in the Eucharist always remind us of Your presence among us, and inspire us to live out the reality of the Resurrection in every aspect of our lives. In the name of the one who is the Guest, the Host, and the Meal, Amen.
The image shown in this post is part of a larger set of images that are available for purchase. Click Here for the images with English captions, or Click Here for the images with no captions.