Cracking open the Scriptures, cracking open the Bread. That is how the risen Jesus is revealed to his disciples as Luke’s Gospel comes to a close. Jesus breaks open the Scriptures and reveals himself to the disciples in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms. Jesus breaks bread with the disciples and in that very act they recognize Him.
Of course, the last chapters of Luke are not the end of the story. Luke is a two-volume work, with the Book of Acts being the sequel. Early in Acts (Luke II), we find the Church devoting itself to the Apostles’ teaching, the fellowship (the community of the Church), the breaking of bread (Holy Communion) and the prayers (for the church and the world). Sounds a lot like Christian worship.
Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking open of the Scriptures as we read from them and hear them proclaimed. Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking of the Bread, as He becomes Bread for us (cf. John 6) in the Meal of Holy Communion. As the Easter hymn beckons us, “Let us rise and keep the Feast!”