Luke 24:13-35
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then 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?’ He 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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and 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. Some 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.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They 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?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Reflection - Open your eyes! Open your heart!
A walk... A new friend... A Bible study... An invitation... A meal... A Communion... A vision...
How wonderful this passage is to me. I love to walk. I'll walk the dogs by myself, I'll walk with someone else and sometimes I walk with someone else while walking the dogs. Once in a while, I'll walk by myself. But in this passage a couple of friends meet up with Jesus and take a walk.
During the walk these friends don't realize that it's Jesus that joined them. But as they give an account of the happenings of the day, which just happen to be the biggest happenings since creation; Jesus opens their minds to the Bible and all of it's prophecy and meaning.
As the two stop for the evening, Jesus was going to go on, but they ask Jesus to stay with them. They invite Jesus to pause with them in life and spend some time together. And Jesus does just this. Jesus takes time to have a meal and as the "Bread of Life" breaks the bread, and the minds of the two are opened, and the hearts of the two are opened to realize that this is Jesus! This is the Savior! This is God in their presence.
At the breaking of Bread... we see Jesus! As the Bible is opened... we see Jesus! As we form in the Communion of all the saints... we see Jesus! Yes... even at the invitation... we see Jesus!
And then... then... Jesus is gone! Jesus vanished! Jesus disappeared!
So what is left? We are left to ponder the greeting along the road... the meeting of a stranger who was Jesus. We are left to think about the breaking of the bread... the meal with one another... the communion of souls together. Yes, we are left with the vision of Jesus firmly etched into our memories and burning within our hearts. We are left with the Savior with us even though Jesus has vanished.
I think we are left with the Holy Spirit to remind us of Jesus' presence in our lives, in our hearts, in our spirit and in our mind. Jesus is with us walking along our side... maybe not physically at all times... maybe not in a form or the flesh we recognize... but Jesus is with us and all around us and within us.
We are left with hope. Even in the midst of this world of pain, illness, death and sin that we still live in and walk in and have conversation in, we are left with the hope of the resurrection of Jesus. A resurrection that didn't come easy. A resurrection that was preceded by rejection, pain, suffering and even death. Yes, we are left with hope in the resurrection of Jesus and our own resurrection, because of Jesus.
We are left with Jesus! Without a doubt! Just look around! I've seen Jesus in the prisoner... in the homeless... in the sick... yes... we are left with Jesus! We are left to see with our own hearts the resurrected Jesus, the resurrected Messiah, the resurrected Savior. We are left to see with our own hearts. We are left to see God!
No doubt about it.
Song
open the eyes of my heart lord sonicflood
Prayer
Lord, open my mind to your presence. Give me the assurance I need that you are always there. Because you are! Even when I don't realize it, I find you are here with me. I give you thanks and praise and glorify you for your presence in my life. Open the eyes of all people to see your loving, saving action and grace that all may come to believe in you as Savior and Lord... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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