Thoughts for the Day

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.... 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.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I love this homely story of Jesus and two of his followers. Like most of us who have seen something spectacular, they are talking about all that has happened in Jerusalem - the sad events of Jesus' death; the news that his body has disappeared; and the women's 'vision of angels' who told them that he is alive. There seems no point in staying in Jerusalem, so they return home, though exactly where Emmaus is no-one is now quite sure.

Neither do we know why the two men don't recognise Jesus. He seems to be different in some way. He can come and go unexpectedly, and isn't always recognized. But we can see the humour in Luke's account of this story. The men believe Jesus is a stranger (perhaps because they come from Judea, and Jesus has a Galilean accent?), and begin to relate to him all the events that have happened. Cleopas then does something important, he invites Jesus to stay for the night and offers him a meal. In the breaking of the bread these two men finally recognise their Master.

Let us not ignore the importance of hospitality in our own lives (within covid regulations, perhaps), nor of appreciating that it is in the act of breaking the bread in the Eucharist that the risen Christ is made known to us.

Lord Jesus Christ,
sometimes we don't see Your presence
in the ordinary things of life;
we don't see You in the friendship of others;
we don't see You in the hospitality offered to us;
and we don't see You in the Eucharist.
Open our eyes to Your presence each day,
and teach us how to take Your love to others.
Amen.