Monday, March 28, 2016

Today’s Reading  |  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. (NRSV)

Reflection
Is this an odd time for Jesus to be having an Undercover Boss moment? In disguise, meeting up with a couple of his pals, asking “So, what’s new?” and Cleopas saying, “Where have you been for the past three days? Behind a rock?”

To his credit, Jesus doesn’t respond, “Well, now that you mention it . . .”

I mean, the Apostle Paul talks about people entertaining angels unawares, but these guys entertained Jesus and they had no clue. Kind of like all of us, most of the time.

We go through our lives, we have our discussions, we talk about who did what to whom and why, we are very free with what should have been done and why our opinion has so much substance, and really, if people knew what we knew and acted how we want them to act, then you know? The world would make sense and everything would be better. And right alongside us is this guy, who says “Oh yeah? What about this? Have you forgotten about that? Do you even know what that means?” And how many of us really pay attention to that voice? How many of us dismiss it as someone who has been living behind a rock or something?

Cleopas and his companion don’t do that. They say, “Stay with us. Tell us more.” They feel their hearts open as they listen to this stranger. That voice, it strikes something inside them, a voice that resonates. And when the bread is broken, they remember—like the disciples were told to do, just a couple of chapters back in Luke’s Gospel. And the world becomes a different place.

All because they listened, because they were open to the random person who joined them on the road. Because yeah, you never know where that voice will come from—the one that strikes the chord, that finds the resonance of the heart.

Prayer
Lord, remind us not to disregard the voice because of the appearance of the speaker. Help our hearts to feel the resonance with you, that we may hear your voice and know your presence. Amen.

Written by Rob Koon, Coordinator of Fine Arts

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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