DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
St. Luke 24:12-35 (4/29) CHRIST IS
RISEN!
Gospel for Tuesday of Bright Week
The
Breaking of the Bread: St. Luke 24:12-35, especially vss. 30, 31: “...as
He sat at table with them...He took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it
to them. Then their eyes were
opened and they knew Him....” The Church knows the risen Lord above
all when she gathers, takes bread, blesses God, breaks the bread, and partakes
of the Holy Gifts. We manifest the
Church in fulfilling these simple actions and are able to declare “Christ
is among us!” and to reply “He is and ever shall be!” This passage from St. Luke amply reveals
the relationship between the Divine Liturgy and Christ’s presence. As in the meal that the Lord shared with
Cleopas and Luke, we encounter the nascent Divine Liturgy: two were gathered,
and the One joined them, fulfilling Christ’s words that, “...where
two or three are gathered together in My Name, I Am there in the midst of
them” (Mt. 18:20). Hence, the
Resurrection, the first day of the week, and the Holy Liturgy inseparably
foreshadow the glorified Church, gathered on the Eternal Eighth Day with her
Lord, in the timeless assembly called the “Supper of the Lamb”
(Rev. 19:9).
The Divine Liturgy is offered as the Church journeys through time, even
when a gathering of God’s People consist of only two disciples, as with
Cleopas and Luke. To the end of the
present age, whenever there are gatherings of the Faithful, and wherever they
are held, Christ is among us. The
Evangelist Luke tells us that the two set out walking to a village 60 Roman
“stadia” from Jerusalem, that is, seven miles in distance (Lk. 24:13). Notice: in the language of Scripture,
the life-journey of the Faithful Christian often is called a
“walk,” just as when the Lord tells Moses that He will try the
people “whether they will walk in My law or not” (Ex. 16:4 ). To sustain us in our walk, the Lord
Jesus reveals Himself in the breaking of the Bread.
St. Luke continues: “And they talked together of all these things
which had happened” (vs. 14).
These “things which had happened” continue to happen in the
Church. All through Great Lent, and
then with deep devotion during Great and Holy Week, we reenter these same
events that these two disciples discussed.
In the defeating moments when “...the chief priests and...rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him” (vs. 20), the Faithful
encounter the living Mystery of Jesus of Nazareth. We read about and sing and pray to Him
“...Who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people” (vs. 19).
We do not limit such recall to the annual Feast of Pascha. We reenter those events continually,
week by week, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, because He was betrayed and
crucified on those respective days.
Furthermore, we come together each First Day of the week, holding the
same hope, “...that it [is] He who [is] going to redeem
Beloved brethren, their eyes were opened when He did these things with
them (vs. 31). The actions have not
changed. They are what He does each
and every time we assemble during our walk through life. Of course our hearts burn within us while
He talks with us on the road of life, but remember, He said, “Lo, I Am
with you always even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). Rejoice! “Christ is among us. He is and He
ever shall be.”
We thank Thee, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou hast
revealed to us through Jesus Thy Servant.
Glory is Thine through all ages.
Just as the bread broken was first scattered on the hills, then was
gathered and became one, so let us Thy Church be gathered from the ends of the
earth into Thy Kingdom, for Thine is glory and power through Jesus Christ.