This reproduction of the Roman artist Caravaggio’s 1602 painting portrays Luke 24:13-32. Shortly after Jesus's resurrection, He appeared to two disciples (Cleopas and the other unnamed by Luke) walking on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him, but their hearts burned within them at His words. When they arrived in Emmaus, they had supper at an inn. The innkeeper, shown standing at the left, does not know anything about Jesus or what is going on. When Jesus blesses and breaks the bread, the two disciples finally realize that it is the risen Christ who is among them.
Some of the symbols in this painting:
- The unbearded Christ = Christ has a different resurrected appearance
- Seashell = mark of a pilgrim or traveller
- Bread & wine = Eucharistic, but also have the rest of the feast = heavenly banquet awaiting them
- Tablecloths = everything a little more royal or heavenly than would be expected
- Torn sleeve, normal men = to contrast the heavenly, but also to show us as we are
- Light — from above left, but also kind of coming from Jesus
This mural is painted in the vestibule of St. Mark's Church in Boise, ID, right over the doors that lead into the nave. This particular painting, with the angles of the lines and action, as well as Jesus’s hand extended in welcome, was chosen to draw people into the church where we are invited to be fed. The two disciples recognize Jesus’s presence in the breaking/blessing of the bread. If viewers look through the doors below the mural, they see the altar, where we should recognize the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. How many of us are like the innkeeper... there at Mass, but not really paying attention or realizing the miracle right in front of us?