St. Gregory the Great on Easter Sunday

You have heard, beloved brethren, how two of the Lord's disciples went together to Emmaus, and were talking about Him. They did not believe in His Resurrection, yet talked about it, when the Lord Himself appeared to them, but held their eyes so that they should not recognise Him. And this holding of their corporal eyes was a figure of the spiritual veil by which the eyes of their hearts were still covered. In their hearts they loved, yet they doubted; and the Lord drew nigh to them outwardly, though He did not show Himself to their soul. He revealed His immediate presence to them that talked of Him, and He hid from them who doubted the knowledge of His Person. By words He associated with them, and rebuked their heart-hardness: He expounded to them in all the Scriptures, the things that were concerning Him; nevertheless, seeing that He was still a stranger to faith in their hearts, He made as though He would go farther. These words, He made as though, would seem to mean, He feigned; but He, who is Truth itself, has nothing to do with feigning. He showed Himself to them in bodily manners, as He was to them spiritually; but they were put to the proof whether they could love Him, at least, as a wanderer, though they loved Him not yet as their God.

However, since it was impossible that they, with whom the Truth was walking, should be without love, they invited Him as a wanderer to accept their hospitality. Why do we say they invited Him, since it is written: But they constrained Him. Their example teaches us not only to bid, but even to compel wanderers, to accept our hospitality. These disciples, therefore, laid a table, and set before Him bread and meat; and that God whom they had not known in the expounding of the Holy Scripture, they knew in the breaking of the bread. They were not enlightened in hearing the Commandments of God, but they were enlightened in doing them. Whosoever will understand that which he hears, let him make haste to practise in his works what he was able to hear. Behold, the Lord was not known while He spoke, but deigned to be known when breaking the bread.

I say this to you, beloved brethren, that you might willingly practise hospitality and all other works of charity. Remember St. Paul's words: Let the charity of the brotherhood abide in you; and hospitality do not forget; for by this some, being not aware of it, have entertained angels (Heb. xiii. 1, 2). Lastly, Truth Himself says to you: I was a stranger, and you took Me in (Matt. xxv. 35).

All this teaches us that, before the time of the last judgment, Jesus Christ is received by us in the person of poor strangers, and that those, who receive them, are considered by Jesus as receiving Him. Yet we neglect the blessings and merits acquired by true hospitality. Consider the excellence of this virtue, and receive Jesus at your table, that one day He may receive you at His eternal banquet. Take into your house, in the persons of strangers, the Lord Jesus, that on the day of the judgment He treat you not as strangers whom He knows not, but take you as friends into His kingdom, there to enjoy His glory, Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.