What kinds of meals do these events seem to describe (e.g., ordinary meals, festive meals)? Is there a typical structure of the ritual meal (and, if there is, do some of these instances seem to depart from that structure)? What meal elements are mentioned specifically (e.g., bread, wine, cup)? What actions are taken in relation to these elements? What theological purpose do you think the Gospel writers had in mind by relating these events the way they did?
On the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and a fellow disciple engage in a meal with Jesus, what today is celebrated as the Eucharist. The breaking of bread reveals Jesus’s identity to these disciples demonstrating its core value to the Church today. In this story, Luke writes that Jesus took the break, “blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30). From this act, the disciples eyes were opened. Their hearts were “burning” the entire day as Jesus spoke of the Scriptures, but it wasn’t until this ritual that they truly saw Jesus and “how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread” (24:35).
At the Last Supper in Luke, Jesus describes the earnestness of his desires to engage in the meal before he is to suffer. He takes the cup and asks them to take and drink, dividing amongst them, telling also that he will not drink of the “fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). Further, he takes the bread and gives it to them, his body, given for them. The road to Emmaus meal relates to the Last Supper as Jesus is fully given in gift to them, fully theirs and by eating of the bread of Christ, the disciples are remembering him. This act of remembrance could be symbolized through the act of their eyes opening.
When Jesus feed the five thousand, the apostles are discouraged because they do not believe they could feed the crowd. However, Jesus says a blessing over the fives loaves and two fish while looking up to the heavens (Luke 9:16). Then, he breaks the bread and gives it to the disciples to set before the crowd. This act of breaking bread and dividing amongst the crowd of followers is continued today. As we eat of the body of Christ, we are fully remembering all that Christ did; he suffered and died for our sins. By eating the Eucharist, we are committing ourselves to living out Eucharistic love, selfless love and giving ourselves as a gift. Just as Jesus did.