HOMILY 23. Delivered to the people in the basilica of the blessed apostle Peter, on the day after Easter.
READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE. At that time, two of Jesus' disciples were going on that same day to a village which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem, called Emmaus, and they were talking with one another about all the things that had happened. And it came to pass, while they conversed and questioned among themselves, that Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize him. And he said to them: What are these words that you exchange with one another as you walk, and why are you sad? And one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answered and said to him: Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there in these days? He said to them: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. And now besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. But also certain women from among us astonished us, who were at the tomb before dawn, and not finding his body, came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And some of our company went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not find. And he said to them: O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew near to the village where they were going. And he made as if to go farther. And they urged him, saying: Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them. And it came to pass, as he reclined at table with them, he took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another: Was not our heart burning within us while he spoke on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? And rising up that same hour, they returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, saying: The Lord has truly risen and has appeared to Simon. And they related the things that had happened on the road, and how they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.
Since you labor in daily observance, few words should be spoken to you; and perhaps these will prove more useful because often food that is less abundant is consumed more eagerly. Therefore I have decided to discuss the meaning of the Gospel reading in summary rather than through individual words, lest a lengthy sermon of exposition burden your beloved selves. Behold, you have heard, dearest brothers, that to two disciples walking on the road—not indeed believing, but nevertheless speaking about Him—the Lord appeared, yet He did not show them an appearance they could recognize. Therefore the Lord performed outwardly in the eyes of the body what was happening within them in the eyes of the heart. For they themselves within were both loving and doubting, while the Lord outwardly was both present to them and yet did not reveal who He was. To those speaking about Him He showed His presence, but from those doubting Him He hid the appearance of His recognition. Indeed He exchanged words with them, He rebuked the hardness of their understanding; He opened up the mysteries of Sacred Scripture that pertained to Himself, and yet because He was still a stranger to faith in their hearts, He pretended to go farther. For we say "fingere" means to fashion; hence we also call shapers of clay "figuli" [potters]. Therefore the simple Truth did nothing through duplicity, but showed Himself to them in body such as He was with them in mind. Moreover they were to be tested, whether those who did not yet love Him as God could at least love Him as a stranger. But because those with whom Truth walked could not be strangers to charity, they invite Him to lodging as a stranger. But why do we say "invite," when it is written there "And they constrained Him"? From this example indeed it is gathered that strangers should not only be invited to lodging but even compelled. They set the table, they offer food, and the God whom they had not recognized in the exposition of Sacred Scripture, they recognize in the breaking of bread.
Therefore, by hearing the precepts of God they were not enlightened; by doing them they were enlightened, because it is written: Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Whoever therefore wishes to understand what he has heard, let him hasten to fulfill in deed those things which he has already been able to understand. Behold, the Lord was not recognized while He was speaking, and He deigned to be recognized while He was being fed. Therefore, dearest brothers, love hospitality, love the works of charity. For hence it is said through Paul: Let brotherly love continue in you, and do not forget hospitality. For through this some have pleased, having received angels as guests. Hence Peter says: Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. Hence Truth itself says: I was a stranger, and you took me in. There is a story well regarded and handed down to us by the account of our elders. A certain father of a household served with great zeal for hospitality along with his whole house; and while he received strangers at his table daily, one day a certain stranger came among others and was led to the table. And while the father of the household, from his custom of humility, wished to pour water on his hands, he turned and took the pitcher, but suddenly did not find the one on whose hands he had wished to pour water. And while he marveled at this occurrence to himself, that same night the Lord said to him through a vision: On other days you received me in my members, but yesterday you received me in myself. Behold, coming to judgment, He will say: What you did for one of my least ones, you did for me. Behold, before the judgment, when He is received through His members, He also visits His hosts through Himself; and yet we are sluggish toward the grace of hospitality. Consider, brothers, how great is the virtue of hospitality. Receive Christ at your tables, that you may be worthy to be received by Him at the eternal banquet. Offer now hospitality to Christ the stranger, that He may not disregard you as strangers at the judgment, but may receive you as His own into the kingdom, with the help of Him who lives and reigns as God forever and ever. Amen.