The Gospel isn’t meant to be gulped down on Sunday morning, but gnawed on through the week so it really becomes a part of us. You’ve got to work at it, like a dog with a good bone! Here’s the Gospel for this coming Sunday — the Third Sunday of Easter — with food for thought about the need to walk together, and listen for the voice of Christ. Gnaw away!
Third Sunday of Easter: Luke 24:13-35
That same day, two of the disciples were making their way to a village called Emmaus – which was about seven miles from Jerusalem – discussing all that had happened as they went.
While they were discussing these things, Jesus approached and began to walk along with them, though they were kept from recognizing Jesus, who asked them, “What are you two discussing as you go your way?”
They stopped and looked sad. One of them, Cleopas by name, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened these past few days?”
Jesus said to them, “What things?”
They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet powerful in word and deed in the eyes of God and all the people – how our chief priests and leaders delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. We were hoping that he was the One who would set Israel free. Besides all this, today – the third day since these things happened – some women of our group have just brought us some astonishing news. They were at the tomb before dawn and didn’t find the body; they returned and informed us that they had seen a vision of angels, who declared that Jesus was alive. Some of our number went to the tomb and found it to be just as the women said, but they didn’t find Jesus.”
Then Jesus said to them, “What little sense you have! How slow you are to believe all that the prophets have announced! Didn’t the Messiah have to undergo all this to enter into glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted for them every passage of scripture which referred to the Messiah. By now they were near the village they were going to, and Jesus appeared to be going further. But they said eagerly, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening – the day is practically over.” So the savior went in and stayed with them.
After sitting down with them to eat, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus, who immediately vanished from their sight.
They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning inside us as this one talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?” They got up immediately and returned to Jerusalem where they found the Eleven and the rest of the company assembled. They were greeted with, “Christ has risen! It’s true! Jesus has appeared to Simon!” Then the travelers recounted what had happened on the road, and how they had come to know Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
The Backstory – What’s Going On Here?
The story of the disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus is only found in Luke’s Gospel (although it is referenced in Mark 16:12). Luke places this story immediately after the account of the empty tomb … and word has traveled fast because he notes it happens “that same day.”
The story does what resurrection appearances do — it lets us know that Jesus is not dead but risen. And just like the two men at the tomb who told the women “why do you seek the living among the dead?” it is clear that this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone! The message rings clear that throughout all the fear and despair of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and death, the power of love has always been holding all creation together. Jesus — while still unknown to the disciples on the road — not only chastises them for their confusion but links what has happened to the overall epic of God’s love affair with the people of Israel. God has always been in control. Love always holds it together.
The climax of the story is the post-resurrection institution of the Eucharist. Jesus’ commandment of Luke 22:14-20 (the Last Supper) is enacted as he goes through the Eucharistic actions of take, bless, break, give … and it is through those actions “their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus.” The story sets the stage for the ongoing Christian experience of the resurrection that we share in to this day.
A few things to chew on:
*The disciples on the road were not faithless, they were confused. So much had happened in the past four days. They had been on a roller coaster of emotion, and they literally did not know what to hope or believe. Jesus doesn’t chastise them for not absolutely believing the women’s account of the empty tomb … but for forgetting the larger picture that everything fit into. He takes the time, walking with them, to paint “the big picture” — starting with Moses and all the prophets — and help them see where all the pieces fit.
Facebook, Twitter, 24-hour cable news, especially in a time of isolation and anxiety — all of these things encourage us to be reactive and make snap judgments and mount fierce arguments. The road to Emmaus story reminds us of the need to walk together, and listen for the voice of Christ … and look for how the events of the day fit into the big picture, remembering that God is bigger than all of it.
*Scholars haven’t figured out exactly where Emmaus was, but regardless, the roads leading into Jerusalem were dangerous to travel by night. There were robbers and others waiting to prey on people. But this story doesn’t tell us that the disciples waited until morning when it was safer to go back to Jerusalem, it says “immediately” they went back. What had happened to them was so powerful, they couldn’t wait to share it. When have you had an experience of God that was that powerful? What did you do?
Try This:
“Weren’t our hearts burning inside us as this one talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?”
The disciples on the road didn’t just meet Jesus in the breaking of the bread, but in having scripture opened to them. Prayer and study with scripture is a key part of discipleship … of meeting and following Christ. Prayer and study with scripture helps us frame our whole lives
differently — helps us look for how we fit into the “big picture” and see how our stories are all part of God’s epic love story with us all.
This week, take a few minutes each day and just sit with a piece of scripture. It can be a different reading each day (try the Gospel reading from the daily office –http://satucket.com/lectionary/2easter2.htm) or it can be a favorite passage or passages. Whatever it is, read it over a couple times and then just sit with it? Where do you see yourself and your life in the story? Who is God or Jesus in the passage? What message can you take that can help you shape your day?
Strangers on the Road
“Love all, trust a few,
do wrong to none.”
— William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well
Whom do you trust?
When the “Breaking News” notice comes on CNN, do you believe what comes next? Do you believe the President’s daily coronavirus briefings? How about Gov. Newsom’s? What news station or website do you go to to learn more or verify it? What makes you believe? What makes information trustworthy for you?
There’s an old Russian proverb, Doveryai, no proveryai – Trust, but verify (You might remember it more from President Reagan, who quickly co-opted it. It isn’t bad advice — particularly because it begins with “trust.” We need to be open to incredible wisdom coming from unexpected sources. We need to be open to meeting Christ where we least expect it.
But we also need to remember what “verify” means. For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, it meant taking the time to consider what he had said, looking for — and eventually finding — signs of the presence of the living Christ in their midst and in their hearts.
Being open to finding Jesus in unexpected places takes both of these things. It takes a willingness to have unexpected people tell us the unbelievable … but also the patience and insight to “test the spirits” and see if the voice we are hearing sounds like the Christ we know.
Jesus berates the disciples for being “slow of hear to believe,” but in many ways isn’t that just human nature? Remember, this is also the Jesus that said: “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24)
We need to be open to Christ but also listen deeply to make sure it is truly Christ’s voice that we here. Is it a voice that calls us to love all? Is it a voice that affirms each person’s beauty and dignity as a child of God? These are signs that the voice is of Christ.
What voices are we hearing today when we look online or on TV that are saying these things? Things that call us to love, not to fear or hate? Things that affirm each person’s beauty and dignity as a child of God? Things that urge us to reach for a greater, common good and beyond what might feel comfortable for ourselves?
What voices can you seek out from unexpected places … even during this time of quarantine? How can we seek to meet Christ in the voice of someone who doesn’t have a daily press briefing?
When the disciples had listened deeply and knew it was Jesus, they were changed from within and they could not be contained. But if they had run off convinced as soon as they had seen him, they probably wouldn’t have had as convincing a story to tell in Jerusalem.
Whom do you trust? Are you willing to trust in the unexpected person? Are you willing to listen deeply enough to ensure that trust is well placed?
As All Saints Church, how can we be a community that helps us do these things together?
Collect for Sunday
Pray this throughout the week as you gnaw on this Gospel.
O God, whose chosen one made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold Christ in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
