Easter Monday- Understanding Scripture- Luke 24:13-35

The Gospel for the Monday in Easter week is Luke 24:13-35, the account of the risen Lord's manifestation to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. There are several intriguing aspects of this story, but several times recently, my thoughts have been drawn to a theme that is sometimes neglected: the connection between Christ's resurrection and understanding the overall message of Scripture. Christians often affirm that Jesus Christ is at the heart of Holy Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. We are also aware that from the call of the Apostles through the Farewell Discourses on Maundy Thursday, Jesus spent a lot of time teaching His followers to understand Scripture.

Unfortunately, we may not have noticed that one important part of our Lord's forty days of resurrection appearances is to explain the Scriptures again. The disciples had not always listened attentively or been receptive to Jesus' teachings over three years. Now in light of His death and resurrection, He gives intensive instruction which they finally begin to understand. In Luke 24:25, the risen Jesus rebukes His followers, "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Even after the first reports of the resurrection, the disciples are slow to believe the things He has taught. So Jesus tries again. As Luke 24:27 says, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Then after Christ has left them, we see their new understanding in Luke 24:32, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Thus, among other Easter blessings is new insight into Holy Scripture.

There are many blessings that Christians associate with Easter. We see victory over sin, death, and the devil. We learn that suffering can be redemptive. We experience grace, hope, and peace. Yet, there is also another blessing. One of the great gifts of Christ's Resurrection is new insight into the meaning of Scripture. The risen Lord continues to open the true meaning of Scripture to us. May His divine grace open our hearts and minds to this gift even more during the Easter season!