Jesus takes time to instruct and reconcile two disciples who had lost faith in Him and were returning to their hometown. The details given of persons and places in Luke show its importance in the early Church.

They did not recognize 'the stranger' as Jesus, because they were too shattered by His death and frustrated in their expectations. Do we not in our frsutrations and disappointments fail to see beyond the past event? Yes, in such a desolate moment as this, the two disciples had lost all the meaning of Jesus' preaching and miracles. Even the testimony of the women and the apostles' report on the empty tomb could not restore their faith.

"Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer and so enter into His glory?" Jesus explained that the sufferings and death of the Messiah, followed by His exaltation to glory, fulfilled God's promises as taught by 'Moses and all the prophets'. This is immortality in Jesus Christ. This rekindled the faith of the disciples for life does not end. It gave them courage to realize their hope and they said, "stay with us". It enabled them to recognize Jesus and the gift of the Eucharist in their lives.