Fifth station
The Christ reveals himself in the breaking of bread
C. We adore you, Christ risen, and we bless you.
T. For with your Easter you have given life to the world.
1L. From the Gospel according to Luke
As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were gong farther, but they held him back, saying "Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark." So he went in to stay with them. He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, "Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others and saying, "The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!" The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.
2L. A supper, an astonishment
The crossroad of Emmaus. The good heart makes two exclaim: "Stay with us". We say it for you, homeless pilgrim. We say it for us, ignited by your words.
And they welcome him. He is their salvation. To open the doors to Christ in disguise is to find the doors to God's heart wide open. They invite him to their supper. And they see the poor table of a small inn turn into the great table of the Last Supper right before their eyes. And the blinded eyes open. The unknown becomes the known face, the desired face. The tired feet of the way become the winged feet of the announcement. And they travel the way to Jerusalem over again.
Today's youth, like the disciples of Emmaus, to the extent with which they will build their home, welcoming the poor of bread, the poor of heart, the poor of sense, will set out to live the experience of Christ. The celebrations of the Eucharist will turn into feasts of profound meeting.
And one is young when one knows how to run. They will run along the streets of today's world to announce the good news to those who lay on the edge of a street, maybe young in age, but decrepit in the heart.
The lover that has experienced love radiates it from every angle. Serafin of Sarov, that Evdokimov calls "the icon of saint Russia" - who lived in an era of steel, constituted a luminous spotlight of the staretz category, especially through the melting pot of illness, absolute silence, reclusion - so he saluted whoever he met: "Christ my joy has been risen." And it was a peace that radiated from the inside that expanded like sweet magic over men and things. A paradigm that means youth. And that feeds youth around itself.
T. Rejoice, Virgin Mother: Christ has risen. Hallelujah!
C. Let us pray. Jesus risen: in your last Supper as earthly man you indicated in the washing of feet the only way to take part in the Eucharist. In the first Supper of you as celestial man you wanted to make hospitality... of the different the condition for communion with you. Lord of glory, help us prepare our celebrations by washing the tired feet of the last ones, welcoming in our hearts and homes "poor, crippled, lame, blind" (Lk 14,13), today's needy, that have no other sign of recognition than that of your live image.
T. Amen.
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