Psalm 19: 1-6 (Common English Bible)
Luke 24: 13-35 (Good News Translation)
The Christian view of revealing God is by the knowledge of God by an act of God. While it is possible to see traces of God in the beauty and order of creation, we need grace to recognize the truth in front of us. When Jesus walked along with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were kept from recognizing him. Still, the story serves as a guide for understanding how God overcomes disbelief and how believers experience that moment of personal enlightenment and awakening.
In the gospel story of Cleopas and the other disciple, they were depressed and just wanted to get away. Their Messiah had been crucified and Rome was as strong as ever in Judea. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Jesus was supposed to have the power to overthrow the Romans like Joshua had brought the walls of Jericho down. But haven’t we all felt that type of disappointment? Maybe that relationship didn't work out. Perhaps that vocation we wanted went to someone else. We are often left with an empty feeling and ask, “Where do I go from here?” I’m sure that is how those two disciples felt.
It is Easter morning and the two disciples are leaving Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a place of pain, sorrow and loss for them. It’s a place where their hopes and dreams were shattered. They had heard rumors that Jesus was alive, but it sounded like a baseless story. No one was allowed to survive a Roman crucifixion.
The gospel story doesn’t say why the two disciples went to Emmaus. It was not a large city, just a small village without any fame about it. But maybe that was the reason they went there. Just for the solitude and peace of mind. And we’ve all felt that way sometime in our lives, after a personal trauma we just want to get away from the area where the trauma happened.
Emmaus can be a symbol for our escape from life. But it can also be a symbol of the way back to life. It was a hunger for life that brought Cleopas and the other disciple to Emmaus.
Hunger is more than physical, it is also spiritual and emotional. We are by nature hungry. We hunger for life, love, wholeness, purpose and community. That “hunger” is the reason why the two disciples strongly urged the stranger, yet unknown to them as Jesus, to “stay with us.” Jesus would not only stay, he would also feed them. The guest they invited would become their host!
When Jesus was at the table with the two disciples, he took the bread and broke it, and gave it to Cleopas and the other disciple. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized their host as Jesus. This was the same one they left for dead on that cross in Jerusalem. It was the same Jesus who accompanied both disciples on the road to Emmaus and explained to them the real meaning and purpose of the Christ.
Jesus wasn’t just giving them bread, he was giving them a part of himself so the two disciples could have real life. This was their restoration. When Jesus broke the bread something in the two disciples broke open. Their lives were being put back together. It can be the same for all of us as well. We’ve all had times when our lives were broken open in ways we can never imagine having been done by a force greater than ourselves.
When Luke wrote his gospel, nearly 40 years had passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus in 33 AD. Many of the Christians were losing patience about the return of Jesus. Luke was trying to reassure his readers, though Jesus was no longer physically present among them, they could still experience his presence by partaking of the Eucharist. Through the bread, wine and holy scriptures they are joined with Christ spiritually as Cleopas and the other disciple were.
In the famous present day Emmaus Walk, one of its activities is a daily observation of the Eucharist. Unfortunately, a growing number of Protestant churches do not observe the Eucharist on a regular basis. John Calvin, one of the founders of the Presbyterian faith, advocated observing the Eucharist every Sunday. I’m glad we observe the Eucharist at least once a month. Some Presbyterian churches observe the Eucharist only quarterly.
When Jesus became the host for Cleopas and the other disciple Jesus fed them by something more powerful than regular bread. Jesus fed them with his body, blood, his love, his compassion and forgiveness. In his gospel Luke does not say, “made known to him in the bread.” It is within the breaking of the bread that Christ is known. And Christ is also made known in that act of love and mutual hospitality. This is the background through which we experience the Risen Christ among us.
But there are many ways besides scripture and the holy supper to experience God in Christ. In Psalm chapter 19, it mentions nature. Many people celebrated Earth Day yesterday. Creation is God’s epic painting. Unlike a canvas painting, God’s painting is three dimensional and living. We can gaze up into the sky in the darkest of night and realize the stars were created by God’s Word, the Christ, and God’s love of creation. And we are held accountable for creation’s care.
Christ is eternal and everywhere. In the Gospel of Thomas, one of those gospels not included in the New Testament, there is quoted an interesting statement from Jesus, “Jesus said: I am the light above everything. Everything came forth from me, and everything reached me. Split wood, I am there. Lift up a rock, you will find me there.”
Whether by partaking of the Eucharist, by reading inspired scripture or walking among God’s creation, Christ is there. And any time you’re feeling alone and walking in despair, just open your heart. You will experience you’re really not walking alone.
AMEN
