Have you ever desperately searched for something, looking everywhere it should have been at least two or three times, feeling increasingly frustrated, angry, or even scared… and then suddenly the thing appeared right in plain sight, and it had been there all along?!
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus on Easter Day are desperately missing Jesus, believing he is dead and gone. They look for comfort and clarity as they try to make sense of what has happened, and they don’t recognize Jesus when he joins them on the road even as he explains all the Scriptures about himself to them.
It’s only when Jesus gives thanks and breaks bread with them that they recognize who he is and realize he’s been with them all along. His familiar words and actions remind them who the real Jesus is and what he told them before about being a servant, about suffering, and about being lifted up and giving his life for the world. The two disciples excitedly run back to Jerusalem to share this great news with the rest of the disciples (Luke 24:13:35).
All of us are on this road to Emmaus, not always recognizing the presence of Jesus among us or in the people and situations we encounter every day. Maybe our old images, understandings, or expectations of God have been shot down or outgrown, or they just don’t work for us any longer, so we don’t need or look for that Jesus anymore. More often, we are probably distracted and overwhelmed by all the messiness and suffering in the world, and we lose sight of who and where Jesus might be. We might only expect Jesus’ presence in “holy” places or at designated times, or maybe our hearts just aren’t “burning within us” anymore.
Today I can offer you this: Whether you recognize the presence of Jesus or not, he is with us and in us all the time. Just as Jesus’ disciples recognized him in the breaking of bread – something very human and ordinary AND something divine as a sign of Jesus’ own life being broken apart, giving life to the world – we, too, can recognize Jesus’ presence in the middle of ordinary human life, giving US divine life.
Jesus is present wherever people interact with each other: in grocery stores, churches, classrooms, front yards, doctors’ offices, hospital rooms, and family dinners. We can recognize Jesus’ presence wherever people do what Jesus did – in acts of self-giving, love, compassion, generosity, care, and kindness. We can recognize Jesus’ presence whenever people are sincerely joined in prayer.
If we will take the time to be quiet inside, open minded, and thoughtfully aware, we may recognize the love and presence of Jesus even in the most unexpected places.
Amidst all the world’s distractions and all our own difficulties, there is nothing more humbling, uplifting, and empowering than Jesus suddenly making his presence known, with love and grace.
We are all on this road together. May God grant wisdom and vision to know he is walking beside us always.
We invite and welcome everyone to join us for worship, Holy Communion and fellowship every Sunday at 10am. You will find a warm congregation, uplifting liturgy, and the Good News of God’s radical love shared in word and sacrament.
