What can be surprising to some people is that the Gospels don't end with Jesus' death and resurrection. In fact, in each Gospel there are additional stories that tell what happens after Jesus' resurrection.
These stories relate how the risen Jesus encountered his disciples, showing to them the wounds in his hands and side, affirming that he rose from the dead.
One unique story that takes place after Jesus' resurrection is found in the Gospel of Luke. It explains how two disciples were walking along a road and met Jesus, though they didn't recognize him at first.
What's interesting is how this story mirrors the essential outline of the Mass.
Liturgy of the Word
The Mass always begins with the reading of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. After the Gospel the priest then explains how the readings we just heard are related to Jesus Christ and Christian living.
When Jesus encountered the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, he opens up scripture and explains it to them:
“O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
This perfectly matches up with the first part of the Mass.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
After the homily, the Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where the priest takes bread and wine and makes present, through the power of God, Jesus himself.
The disciples did not recognize Jesus until he was made present in a unique way:
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. (Luke 24:30-31)
Jesus is present in a special way in the Eucharist at Mass and so it is fitting that the disciples did not recognize him until this point.
Sending out
The Mass ends with a dismissal, where the priest or deacon may say, "Go, the Mass is ended."
The USCCB offers a commentary on this dismissal that points to our overall mission:
After the blessing, the deacon dismisses the people. In fact, the dismissal gives the liturgy its name. The word "Mass" comes from the Latin word, " Missa." At one time, the people were dismissed with the words "Ite, missa est" (literally meaning "Go, she—meaning you, the Church—has been sent"). The word "Missa" is related to the word "missio," the root of the English word "mission." The liturgy does not simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth to bring the fruits of the Eucharist to the world.
In a similar way, the two disciples immediately went back to Jerusalem to tell everyone the "good news":
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:33-35)
Just as the disciples were nourished by Jesus' presence and were sent out in mission, we too are sent out after Mass into the world to tell everyone what happened to us when we encountered Jesus.
