May 8, 2011

The Road to Emmaus

by Jon Strasman

In my conversations this week, there were three things that consistently came up in conversation: First off, it is Mother's Day today. Folks have been sharing their Mother's day plans, or their grief of a first Mother's day without mom. Thank you Moms everywhere for all that you are and all that you do. Past, present, and future.

Second, we have come down to the day where Kara Roser, Intern Scott's Wife, is saying goodbye to Gloria Dei. She is off to University of Iowa to start PA school. You both have made quite an impact on our community of faith… especially your work as the leads in Logos players production of Our Town. Thank you Kara for you important work here and for sharing Scott with us.

And third people have discussed the fact that Osama Bin Laden has finally been captured and killed. Public enemy number one is no longer a target of our government. The world is now safer place? Right? Our future is now secure with this victory? Not.

But in this season of Easter, we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of a man who does promise us security, even in the midst of grief and loss, new journeys, and threats in our world today.

Today in our Gospel, we get to listen into a conversation on the road to Emmaus.

Jesus meets Cleopas and an unnamed disciple, perhaps a woman… this could be a couple, on the road. They have forsaken the other disciples and decide to go home. Perhaps this is the only place they thought they could go. Don't we long for home when things aren't going so well?

He meets them where they are - on the road, amid their journey, right smack in the middle of all the pain, frustration, and fear that threatens to overwhelm them. Even though they don't recognize him.

We don't know exactly why they are walking away, but according to the context, they were expecting a Military type savior to expel the Romans and lead with power and might. "We hoped that he was the one to free Israel." They couldn't see God under the veil of suffering on a cross.

The conversation goes like this, "What are you discussing along the way?" According to the Greek, they weren't having a benign conversation, they were debating the events of the past week. Maybe Jesus came to settle the debate. One scholar said here Jesus is doing an intervention.

Still they didn't recognize them. I know if I am depressed or down, I don't see much beyond my own nose.

They ask, "Are you the only stranger who has not heard what has taken place this week?"
"What things?" says Jesus. Here Jesus is playing dirty pool.

Some Women astounded us or literally in the Greek confused them. They chose to ignor the women's testimony. Even though the women told them the tomb was empty. The angels told them Jesus was alive.

Men, listen to the women in your life.

Jesus responds, How Slow of heart to believe all the prophets declared.

Then beginning with Moses and the Prophets he interpreted all the things about himself in the scriptures. Jesus holds a Bible Study.

As they were Nearing the village… Jesus pretended to go ahead. .

And, in those days, if you were to invite a stranger to stay, you had to ask repeatedly before they would actually accept the invitation. The word's the couple used were Abide with us. Remain with us. They finally prevailed upon Jesus.

Throughout the Gospel of Luke, as in the Mediterranean culture in general, table fellowship is seen as the litmus test of social solidarity. Eating together meant that a bond ran deep among all participants. Intern Scott and Kara, just by the sheer number of lunch and dinner invitations you have received this month, I have concluded that the litmus test for an intern is the number of meals they share with parishioners. Thank you all for loving on them.

When Jesus Took Bread. Broke it and gave thanks, and gave it to them. They recognized them.

Their eyes were opened up completely.

And once this took place, he disappeared. Jesus knew what they needed to see. And the couple ran back at night to tell the others he is risen.

This is the story of Sunday worship. Like the couple in the story we experience grief and disappointment. We gather for worship confessing that we walk away from God. We wander and stray. We try to gain security in the future through financial markets or our government, or by any other means.

We open the word and it convicts us and lifts us. We hear that Jesus never gives up on any of his followers. He will pursue us and take as much time as he needs, or by whatever means necessary to draw us back in.

In the meal he clears the scales from our eyes and forgives our sins. He sets us free from our worries and fears to serve the other.

As Christians, this is not a bad pattern to emulate, is it? Meet people where they are. Open up the Scriptures so that they can make sense of their lives in light of God's mercy. Gather them to a meal and be nourished by Christ's own presence. And send them on their way to be Christ's hands and feet.

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