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living presence felt in its words and deeds. This provides us a kind of blueprint, a legacy for the future. And our openness to sharing in the context of table fellowship the Breaking of the Bread and in moments of listening to the Word of God enable us to open our eyes once again. This calls us back to read beyond the literal meaning of breaking bread together in the spirit of a community.

We know that the wellspring of Christian spirituality is our inner life and our openness to encounter God in daily life provides us a context in which we may recognize the "burning in our hearts" like that of the disciples and our eyes could be opened.

As Christians, we struggle to be faithful after the 9/11 disaster, tsunami in Asia, Katrina hurricane in Louisiana, not to mention just here in our community, in our ministry. Our world seems to be losing now our sense of sin, our preferential option for the poor, and our moral decadence continues to challenge our faith. Families and relationships have become weak in the midst of postmodern culture. These are examples that seem to be familiar about the dilemma that these disciples found themselves in.

Like what he said to Cleopas and his friend, Jesus also challenges us "how slow of heart you are to believe." This requires us to have a heart[2] for Jesus that burns within; to have a heart for the mission, and to have a heart that is open to recognize Jesus through situations of poverty, injustice, and violence.

I remember a nun who celebrated her 50 years in the religious life. She said that the "burning within her" has periodically been her "engine". Meaning as a conversation partner, her openness to whatever it is that God wants her to do through events, has been her source of strength and faithfulness.

[1] This town had been the site of the decisive battle won by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. against the forces of the persecuting King Antiochus IV. The victory opened the way to Jerusalem and led to the purification of the Temple (see 1 Maccabees 4:1-61). So going to Emmaus' in the story stands for joining the Jewish armed resistance to foreign, now Roman rule.

[2] For the Jewish people the heart in Greek texts "cardia" is the seat of emotion and reasoning. It is the center of our affection. That is why the bible says, "Trust in the Lord thy God with all Thy heart" (Proverbs 3:5).

Learn more about this author, Mark Escobar.
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