The Road To Emmaus—Luke 24:13-33

 

              My internship supervisor, Pastor Gregg, has a tradition of inviting the Vicar (intern) preach on the Road to Emmaus. It is a strange and wonderful resurrection story that takes you on twists and turns, exposes your rough edges, and functions as a sort of Rorschach test. And, at least for me, it re-affirmed that we meet our resurrected Lord in worship.

Read through the story again—maybe even flip through a hymnal while you do it. Cleopas and the other disciple are gathered together, two or three are gathered, and guess what? Jesus is there! He is among them, even when they do not immediately realize that is what is happening. Isn’t that what happens in worship, the buzz of its beginning, yes we’re in the sanctuary to worship, but before (and often during) the prelude we’re meeting the fellow faithful, talking about everything that happened—and in that encounter we happen upon Jesus, who by the time the Pastor begins, “Grace peace and mercy…”, has been half a pew behind you the whole time!

“What are y’all talking about?” the stranger who is not a stranger, asks.

So they catechize our Lord on the situation at hand, telling the story of his life and death, and even the “idle tale” of resurrection. Then he turns the tables, or rather shares in that moment of testimony with them, telling them what scripture had to say about what they had seen and heard about their Lord. Jesus shows up when we tell his story and when we dive deeper into the larger story of God’s faithfulness. Is that not the goal of every sermon, every bible study, every devotion, even this one you are reading right now?

Then, Jesus feigns a farewell, only to be invited in to share a meal. In offering the blessing, bread broken and given, he is revealed! There is a numinous moment of recognition, and then it is done. “Were our hearts not kindled?” The receiving of this holy meal solidifies the sacredness of what came before. The whole thing, an encounter with our risen Lord! “The Body of Christ, given for you.” Those gathered, the body of Christ, the sermon and confession witnessing to what we now consume!

And finally, this epiphany having occurred, they are sent out. They go and witness, for the Lord has come near to them. And in witnessing, in being sent out into the world, they encounter Jesus again! “The Lord is risen indeed!” They are told and they tell. The Emmaus encounter meets the women at the tomb encountering our Lord, and blossoms. So too, when we are sent out into the world as servants and witnesses, we encounter the Living God. Thanks be to God!

Gathered together, sharing the Word of God with each other, receiving the Lord’s supper, and being sent out. This fourfold movement of worship is an ongoing journey with Jesus.