One of my favorite Resurrection stories is the road to Emmaus. Two disciples are walking together – discouraged, confused – and trying to make sense of everything that has happened, when Jesus joins them on the road.

Luke tells us that one of the disciples is Cleopas. There is a beautiful tradition that the unnamed disciple may have been his wife. If so, we have the image of a married couple walking together with Christ in their midst, even before they recognize him.

When they arrive at Emmaus, they invite Jesus to stay and share a meal. Sharing bread has long been a sign of friendship and hospitality, but at Emmaus it carries an even deeper meaning. In the breaking of the bread, they recognize Christ. For us as Catholics, it is impossible not to see the connection to the Eucharist – the place where Christ continues to gather us around a table (the altar), feed us and draw us into communion with him and with one another.

The Emmaus story doesn’t end at the dinner table. After recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the disciples get up and return to Jerusalem. Their encounter with Christ sends them back to their community to share what they have experienced.

How is this connected to marriage? Our encounter with Christ, especially in the Eucharist, should send us outward. The love between a husband and wife should grow and become more generous over time. It makes room for children, but the fruitfulness of marriage doesn’t stop with our children. There should also be room for deep friendships, extended family, other married couples, neighbors and people who need a place to belong. In other words, marriage is part of something much larger.

Hospitality is one very practical way to live this out. It doesn’t require a beautiful house or an elaborate dinner. Invite another couple over after Mass. Have an older couple to dinner. Make room for the family who is new to the parish or the person who might otherwise be alone.

These relationships are good for our marriages, too. They take some of the pressure off expecting our spouse to meet every need. Friends encourage us. Other couples give us wisdom and perspective. Our children see what Christian friendship looks like and they see that every marriage and family relationship is unique. We have people to celebrate with and people to turn to when life is difficult.

There is a line from Les Misérables that has always stayed with me: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

Perhaps that is one of the great gifts of Christian marriage. We learn to see the face of God in our spouse, and then together, we open our lives and our homes wide enough to see him in others. This is the gift of a marriage that helps others to see the face of God in a world turned inward – a marriage that is a witness of God’s love in the world helps to unwind the knots of our selfishness. Your marriage can point others to heaven and stand as a constant reminder of the love God has for every person.