May 7 Sun
A veil is not just a covering. It also reveals. We veil what is sacred—to indicate that it is sacred, that there is something more than you see. Thus, the chalice is often veiled not because it’s ugly or because we’re forbidden to look at it. It is veiled to reveal its sacred purpose as the vessel of Christ’s Precious Blood. Likewise with the ciborium and the Tabernacle. A woman is veiled not because she is ugly (one hopes) or because we’re forbidden to look at her. She is veiled to reveal her dignity as a bride on her wedding day.

This makes us understand the appearances of our risen Lord. He is veiled in body and word.
There is a veil over the BODY of the risen One, when he appears to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, and to the Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias. They did not recognize him at first. Similarly, the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Beneath the veil, Christ is seen only with the eyes of faith.

Further, there is a veil over the Jesus’ WORDS; his questions are the verbal veiling of his identity. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” he asks the Magdalene. “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” he asks the Apostles. On the road to Emmaus, he asks: “What are you discussing as you walk along?”
Our Lord asks questions not to gain information but to impart revelation. So, the purpose of this hiddenness is a greater intimacy. He veils himself not to frustrate but to entice. His hidden presence leads his disciples to a greater desire for him. Beneath the veil, Christ’s words are understood only through meditation.

The veil reminds us of the sacraments. All the sacraments, but especially the Eucharist, are symbols (that we see) but also contain a reality (that we do not see). The Eucharist becomes the turning point of the Emmaus story, as it should be in our lives. The disciples, once headed to the West, to the dying of the light, and away from the holy city, now turn back to the East, to the rising sun, and race back to the expectant Church in Jerusalem. The veil had opened their eyes. Now they race to enlighten others with the good news of the resurrection.
The whole scene represents the warp and woof of the Christian life. Christ veils himself in the sacraments so that we will long for him, seek him, and grow in desire for him. He likewise reveals himself in them to create within us an apostolic zeal.

The veil is only a symbol; the Eucharistic species indicate and reveal the real, sacramental presence of Jesus contained in there. Thus, he continues to be made known to us in the breaking of the bread—if only we continue to plead with him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over!