“The Gospel of this Sunday…is the famous account of the disciples of Emmaus.  The locality of Emmaus has not been identified with certainty.  There are various hypotheses and this one is not without an evocativeness of its own for it allows us to think that Emmaus actually represents every place: the road that leads there is the road every Christian, every person, takes.  The Risen Jesus makes himself our travelling companion as we go on our way, to rekindle the warmth of faith and hope in our hearts and to break the bread of eternal life” Pope Benedict XVI.  The word ‘companion’ literally means ‘one who shares our bread’.  In a special way his companionship is manifested at every Mass and every time we receive Holy Communion.  Each time is as much an encounter with the risen Lord.  For us, too, it is a brief encounter as the Body of the Lord dissolves on our tongue and his sacramental presence is replaced by an inner spiritual awareness and burning of heart.