Recognizing Christ Along the Way
Luke 24:13-35
13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”
25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
“The Road to Emmaus” by Daniel Bonnell
This past Friday I saw a friend and I asked them, “How was your Easter?” She was busy in the midst of gathering her things when she looked at me with a sudden realization “was that just this past weekend? Gosh! It already feels like so long ago.” In this text, on the afternoon of resurrection, a stranger comes along to ask what’s up. They’ve been going over it in their heads themselves…EVERYTHING that has happened recently… and just this morning… Gosh! Was that just a few hours ago? The news of Resurrection is still fresh on our ears but now we’re already on the move to other places. We’ve heard the astounding testimony of the women that Christ is risen. We’ve seen the angels in dazzling splendor announce the joyous news that Jesus is not among the dead, but the living. We have sung alleluia songs of loudest praise…
But there are still those who walk away from the Easter message feeling dejected and sad, carrying the heaviness of dashed hopes. Any fire in their hearts is reduced to cinders. “We had hoped…” they say. If ever a phrase could capture the heartache of our deep disappointments... “We had hoped…”
What unfulfilled deep-hearted hopes are weighing on you today? We can pretend they’re not there or they’re not heavy, but neither of those things will alleviate the weight on our chest. It’s ok to acknowledge them, even if only to yourself. In fact, here we see a sacred of story that unfolds as faithful people give voice to what’s troubling them.
These followers of Christ walk on, continuing a seemingly ordinary rhythm of life. Even with no clear answers, they continue to talk with each other about what’s going on.
As they’re talking on this journey, some other person, some stranger shows up, essentially inviting themselves into the conversation. They begin to share the story of what they’ve experienced, what led up to these moments, and what is still unfolding. This stranger asks simple open-ended questions, listens and makes connections that may have overlooked that help make meaning of these moments. As much as they’re willing to share their own experience, they’re also open to hearing the insight of this new voice. Sometimes we need a wise trustworthy outside voice to help make sense of things. This is why a therapist or counselor can be such an important life-giving partner in life, if only in certain seasons of our journey.
This mysterious Messiah shows up for them, shows up WITH them in their dismay. Their being able to recognize Jesus or “get it” isn’t a prerequisite for God’s care and presence, nor for God’s holy joy to show up in their midst as they invite this stranger to linger and stay. Jesus isn’t just waiting at some holy destination, but is present along the way. Often the heart of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel of Luke happens on the road, in the journeying spaces. The Book of Acts says that the first self-designation for the newly-emergent movement of Jesus-followers was not “Christians,” but followers of “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
Jesus is present in their midst along the way but they don’t recognize him. It seems life after death doesn’t look the same as before. We, as a people, re-member and gather in re-newed ways, now and in light of the resurrection, and it does not look the same as before. God will not look the same as before. We are not the same as before. The body of Christ looked one way prior to death and has changed with the resurrection. The contrast can be so disorienting that we miss God in our midst. Our community body of Christ will never look the same as it did before these days of so much death, but it is a risen and resurrected body all the same.
Jesus is present but not recognized…until invited, shared, and reflected. When this stranger is about to carry on down the empty road alone at night, they invite him in so that he might be safe in their company to share in their refreshment and find rest. Just as Jesus had done the last time they’d gathered for a holy meal, the bread is blessed, broken, and shared between them. In this intimate space of a shared table, the resurrected Christ is made known and recognized among them. Even as he vanishes from sight, they can begin to see and know Christ’s presence as the look back and reflect on their experience. After being so close and so connected, they begin to notice the ways that this had still been true along the way. Weren’t our hearts burning within us as we walked together? When was the last time you noticed your heart burning within you?
Sometimes we don’t fully notice how God has been present and speaking to us until we take time to look back. So often and especially in times of stress, we end up just trying to live through our days, but there is resurrection all around us. When these travelers pause and reflect, paying close attention to their experiences and feelings, in their hearts, and minds, and bodies… they recognize the living God among them and begin to echo resurrection to the others.
St. Ignatius of Loyola cultivated a regular practice of noticing like this, called the Daily Examen. It’s a relatively simple routine to be engaged once or twice a day, perhaps mid-day and evening that follows this pattern:
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Focus on one aspect of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.
Following the witness of this resurrected and resurrecting God who comes besides us along the way, I want to invite you into this practice for a small time now. Take a few moments to sit in silence and stillness to become aware, notice, and be present…
Mysterious and Divine Presence,
Too often our hearts burn within us because our bodies know before our minds that you are here working in us and through us in this world. Open our eyes, and help us to recognize you in all places and in all people, for the sake of the one whose presence is never far, Jesus Christ. Amen.