Emmaus: Altobello Melone. (16th-Century)
He shows Jesus dressed as a pilgrim: his short tunic is suitable for walking, he carries a pilgrim’s staff; there’s a pilgrim’s badge on his hat.
As they drew near to Emmaus, Jesus “made as if to be going further”.
The disciples got him to stay with them, but, like Mary Magdalene that morning, they could not keep him with them for long.
For Jesus was a pilgrim; he was on a journey, an urgent one; he had to go further.
He was the First and the Leader of pilgrims; he was “the pioneer of our salvation”, our trail-blazer.
(Pilgrim’s badge: Scallop shell, symbol of the Camino to Santiago.)
