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For
those who love a good travel story, this unique story of the Walk to
Emmaus in Luke is it. We get to visit with passionate believers trying to
figure out what has happened in the death of Jesus. It is a story which
creates a vivid dialogue between these believers and Jesus – who for
some reason are kept from recognizing. It is a story of faith growing and
it is a story of action…where once Jesus is recognized, the faithful
return to
Jerusalem
to share their experience.
The
kids and I recently returned from a trip to visit my parents in
Arkansas
. We drove 1820 miles round trip. Our experience going down was
uneventful, but upon return it was filled with too many events, causing us
to arrive at home with mom exhausted, weary and ready for a few more days
of rest! I won’t go into too many details, but the last two days
included losing a piece of luggage, having an allergic reaction, pulling
away from a gas pump at the wrong time, and recycling among us the common
cold. When I returned to work, as I’m sure you have been asked as you
return from various places…"So, how was your trip??"
"Well,” I’m thinking, “do you want the long or short
version?"
I imagine that when Cleopas and the other traveling companion returned to
Jerusalem
and found that the eleven also had an encounter with the risen
Christ – many stories were exchanged, both long and short versions. Can
you imagine the excitement? The flurry of words, and then someone finally
saying…"Now,
Cleopas, from the beginning…what happened to you?"
And Cleopas replies, “Well, the journey began normally enough, it was
sort of uneventful, except there was this stranger…”
Fred
Craddock says "There are three times in which to know an event: in
rehearsal, at the time of the event, and in remembrance. In rehearsal,
understanding is hindered by an inability to believe that the event will
really occur or that it will be so important. At the time of the event,
understanding is hindered by the clutter and confusion of so much so fast.
But in remembrance, the nonseriousness of rehearsal and the busyness of
the event give way to recognition, realization, and understanding. This is
a time of understanding an important trip, a wedding, a gathering of
friends, or a conversation with a stranger turned Christ at the
table."
Luke
has chosen to craft a story in which we see the entire scene from the
perspective of Jesus and the travelers trying to figure out what this
resurrection is all about. And what I love is that Jesus waits until the
right moment, after they have shared their woes, to explain how God has
been sending prophets and creating a worshipping community ripe for
Christ’s presence, both Christ’s life and Christ’s death. While
Jesus might sound a little harsh calling these travelers
"foolish," he is not attempting to convert those who know
nothing. Jesus is trying to show them they have all the information they
need to go on. And what is beautiful, is even though these travelers are
focused on the details, and trying to put the puzzle together...they
embrace the overall mission and ministry of Christ when they asked this
"stranger" to "STAY WITH US." Even though they wonder
about the empty tomb, and what the women did or did not see, and what
happened to Jesus…they still GOT THE MESSAGE! Strangers are to be
welcomed into the fold, invited in, especially strangers who are able to
see with new eyes what we cannot.
I wonder if the two travelers sensed deep down they had more to learn, and
didn’t want this stranger who had such wisdom to leave? If you’ve ever
traveled by yourself – even taken a walk alone on a trip with a group,
it is often these solo journeys which reap benefits unplanned for. Whether
it is in a foreign country or your own neighborhood, just getting outside,
taking a walk, and meeting new people can bring tremendous growth and
renewal, and often revives our sense of community.
Christ was first a stranger to Cleopas and the other companion. Yet this
STRANGER was still welcomed into a conversation as one who had wisdom to
share. But upon being seated at the table, and performing what is now our
Holy Communion, Christ was recognized…and then vanished from their
sight. As soon as that feeling, that knowing, that seeing took
place…then it was gone. How often it is when a feeling of peace settles
around us and in us before something else enters and worries our minds.
But for this time, and with Luke’s telling of it, these two had such a
powerful experience, that "very same hour" they took off for
Jerusalem
. For the place where the disciples were experiencing their own
"stranger as Christ" – first thought to be a ghost!
The
part of this story which we can all cling to is the breaking of the bread.
It is in this special moment when a simple meal is transformed by the love
of God into a remembrance of the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
In remembering the acts of Christ, the compassionate healing, the loving
kindness, the strong teachings, the openness of the table and how it
welcomes all of us sinners with equality…we remember as well that we are
asked to be Christ for others.
Savoring the moment, Cleopas and the unnamed traveler come back with the
one image in which Christ appeared to their eyes. They saw Christ in the
breaking of the bread. It was such a simple act…and didn’t Christ
prove to be the Messiah in the teaching of the scriptures along the road?
Or, when Christ listened as they shared how the women astounded them with
their experience. Is it that each disciple must have some kind of personal
encounter with the risen Christ to continue with passion in ministry?
Could it be as simple as believing in the experience of others, or does
each person need their own? Christ says "how foolish you are, and how
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!"
For me it gets down to the question of authority. Is it scripture alone
which should hold authority for our faith? If this were the case, why did
Jesus appear? Weren’t the words of the prophets enough? Or, do we add in
the experience of others, our tradition? Is that enough? Or, do we need
our own personal experience of God? Is this the truth Luke shares, that on
our journeys we are invited to participate and recognize when God does
visit, and then reflect upon it with others? Is it in the simple
hospitality shown to others which leads to a meal and then that stranger
becomes Christ…and our faith is renewed because we have learned and
grown? Inviting Jesus led to Cleopas and the companion to believe more
fully in Christ resurrected.
Some commentaries point out that the location of Emmaus has never really
been agreed upon. This is yet another opening for me…we are all
journeying somewhere, and no matter if we travel solo or with others, the
opportunity for God to join us unawares is always a possibility. What we
do with it, and if we can hold onto the experience to be shared is
important. I think as humans that we need to share one another’s stories
and encounters with the divine. It strengthens us, informs us, and
enlivens our own search.
In the book "The Art of Pilgrimage" there is an idea shared
about how to visit important places – specifically an art gallery. But
you could substitute a memorial, a garden, a pilgrimage site, a hometown
as well…listen for how this one person sees their world. "When I am
back from the day, I try to go over it, try to honor it before going to
sleep. For years I have made the point of memorizing paintings at museums.
I always tell people to simplify
their museum experience. Find one painter, or just a few paintings, and
pay attention to those.
If a work of art excites you, memorize it with
your eyes and your imagination right there in the museum and you
will have it forever. You can be a collector that way! If, on some
enchanted evening, you see a piece of sculpture or a paining, you grab on
to it, latch on to it. You don’t gorge on the food at a great meal. You
should taste the food, not shovel it down. It’s the same with
traveling."
The walk, Emmaus, the stranger, the bread, the vanishing. This is an image
we can carry with us…all the way back to
Jerusalem
, and home to our companions who ask us…"how was your trip?"
Our God is working to touch our lives in ways we will recognize and
treasure. Like images we can take with us, may this memory shared by
Cleopas feed you.
Amen.
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