Diego Velázquez is an important Spanish painter from King Phillip V's court. He is mostly known for his extensive portraiture, being used by the royal family and the nobility for many works. He was no slouch with religion paintings and on Sunday, our bulletin showed his interpretation of Sunday's Gospel, the Road to Emmaus.
Velázquez chooses to focus on the moment in the story when Jesus, who the disciples had previously been unable to recognize, becomes known.
To be honest, I first keyed into this painting because Jesus' very "Spanish" features made me laugh. I can't say I have much experience with a Jesus who has a Don Quixote goatee. But in further meditation on the photo, I was interested in the difference between Jesus' beatific pondering and the disciples action and argument with each other.
This is the moment when his followers realize that Jesus has been with them all day! They didn't realize it was him, a scandalous realization!
How often do we join the disciples in missing Jesus in our presence? He's always there, in our neighbors and loved ones. We are called to treat others the way we would treat our Lord, recognizing God's presence within them.
May we join the disciples in their realization and focus, not on the argument that follows, but on the presence of Christ with us.