The
people have just witnessed the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. Now what? Some
hang about waiting to see what comes next, because they have heard the stories
that Jesus was to be the saviour of the people. They weren’t expecting him to
die without accomplishing that feat.
The majority of the people who had been
present that fateful morning were not from Jerusalem and are now making their
way home.
That’s what these two people in Luke’s
account are doing; they are headed home to a village called Emmaus, and they
are talking about everything that had happened.
While they were walking, a man suddenly
appeared and asked what they were talking about. The men couldn’t believe that
there was anyone around that wasn’t aware of everything that had happened in
the last few days.
When you read this passage, it easy to say
“how did these two not know that it was Jesus who was walking with them?”
But Luke doesn’t say they didn’t recognize
him. He says “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”. It’s not like they
wouldn’t remember what Jesus looked like. They had just watched him die on a
cross only 3 days prior!
“Their eyes were kept from recognizing
him” – Jesus has veiled his identity from the two in front of him. He appears
to them but he doesn’t allow them to recognize that it is really him.
It’s as if Jesus wants to hear what
they have to say about him and about what happened.
Cleopas, the only of the two to be
named, told the story of the last three days, but in doing, reduces Jesus from
the Messiah to a prophet – “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a
prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.”
Cleopas has lost his faith, his
hope. To Cleopas, Jesus was to have been to saviour and redeemer of Israel but
three days after his death, nothing has changed in the world.
So he decided to leave Jerusalem and
go home, believing the Jesus had only been a prophet, not the promised Messiah.
Surprisingly, this is even after he
admitted the fact that he knew about the empty tomb, that he had heard the
story from the women who had visited Jesus’ tomb and found it empty.
Until this point, Jesus had been
listening patiently, knowing better than anyone what had happened at cavalry,
but once Cleopas admitted the fact that he still didn’t believe that Jesus was
alive even after receiving the report of the empty tomb and the message from
the angels, Jesus rebuked the men.
He rebuked them for their lack of
faith, for not believing the prophets who had come before Jesus. These men
would have known the scriptures. They would have heard the stories of Moses and
Isaiah and all the prophets who foretold of a Messiah who would have to “suffer
before entering into his glory.”
And yet, even after hearing stories
of Jesus’ life and ministry, after witnessing his death, and after receiving
the message from the tomb, Cleopas has chosen to not believe the prophets from
whom he would have grown up learning.
He is lacking faith.
Jesus called them foolish men and could
have stormed off in disgust. But he doesn’t.
He meets them where they are, in
their pain and their doubt, in their brokenness and their lack of faith. And
then evangelizes to them through the scriptures as they walked the road to
Emmaus.
When Jesus finally reveals himself
to Cleopas and his companion, it is through his words at the table that were
identical to the words used at the last supper in the upper room. Jesus reveals
himself and then disappears, leaving the two to realize the burning fire of
faith renewed in their hearts.
Once that faith was restored, their
eyes were opened once again.
The fulfillment of the prophets did
not end with the resurrection of Jesus. It is happening every day as our faith
burns within us.
As he did with Cleopas and his
companion, Jesus walks with us through our pain and sadness, doubts and fear,
and even, or especially, our loss of faith.
It’s easy to lose our faith and to
be blind to what’s before us, especially in times of fear and sadness we experienced
throughout the pandemic, mass shootings, poverty, war…
Jesus walks with us down our own
road to Emmaus and it is our faith in Jesus that will open our eyes to the
beauty and glory of his resurrection.
It’s okay to doubt. Doubt is not the
opposite of faith, in fact it is a requirement of faith. Honestly, in light of
all the death and trauma and disappointment and tragedy that colors every human
life, it’s not really surprising that we would have at least some difficulty
believing the promise that God not only raised one person, Jesus, from the
dead, but also promises new life and second chances and forgiveness and grace
to all.
And if there is one moment where we
can cast aside our doubt, even for a little while, and renew our faith in Jesus,
it is during the Eucharist. The breaking of the bread is a mysterious gift for
us – the gift of the Risen One’s presence – the sharing in the divine life and
love of God, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus had been made known to Cleopas and friend
in the breaking of bread. This is where they saw the risen Jesus, and this is
where he will come to us, too. It is at the table where our faith will be strengthened,
and we will be equipped for ministry through the sharing of a meal.
Remember those words that I sometimes say
before we share in communion?
This is the table
of Christ. It is made ready for those who love him, and for those who want to
love him more. Come, whether you have much faith or little, have tried to
follow, or are afraid that you have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will
that those who want to meet him, might meet him here.
Come
to Christ’s table. Come as you are. Come hungry, come helpless, come hopeful. Come
with your doubt. Come with your faith. Come with your questions.
Come! Rejoice! And
see the risen Christ!
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment