April 30, 2017
2nd Sunday After Easter Year A

“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?” Luke 24:13-32

Hope is one of the most important lessons we take from this text this morning. We should have hope because, just like Jonah, and the Prodigal Son, and Paul, God does not forsake these travelers. Instead he comes beside them, greets them along the way, and gives them a reason to hope. And God does just the same for us – God does not forsake us. Over and over again God shows patience with us while we retreat, God perseveres with us while we wander, and God offers forgiveness when we stray, and even goes to great extremes when we need to be re-routed onto a new path. Throughout out life’s journeys, God appears, surprises, disappears, and reappears again when we really need God – or really need a good kick in the pants. But what makes the story of the road to Emmaus even that much more remarkable is how unremarkable it really is. We can understand how Jesus appears to the eleven disciples, and to the women, to teach them the true nature of the Messiah. But what we tend to lose in this story is the fact that Cleopas and his companion, who may even be his wife, well they are just regular people – veritable nobodies in the history of disciples – never to be mentioned again – yet they receive the greatest gift possible – a visit from the risen Jesus. This gives us, regular Joe and Jane disciples of the 21st century, it gives us hope as we travel along our own roads of emptiness, loss and fear. After all, if Jesus will come along side Cleopas and his friend, why shouldn’t we believe Jesus will come along side us?

Another reason this story of the Road to Emmaus should be so meaningful today is that it shows us how God’s Word and the Sacraments connects us with God’s presence – no matter where we are in our journeys. When the disciples break bread with the “stranger” in Emmaus, the risen Jesus is revealed to them – and it changes their lives forever. And so even today, when we break bread together in communion, or sprinkle water over the heads of those being baptized, we too believe that Jesus is with us – and this should change us, thrill us, and empower us as well. You see, we expect Jesus to come to us in the bread and wine and the water, because he promised to come to us in those means. But Jesus also comes to us in ways we never expect. He may come to us in the form of a complete stranger handing us a pamphlet that holds scripture that brings us words of comfort. Or God’s presence may come in someone we hardly know, or a complete stranger extending a word of kindness or a helping hand. Jesus may reveal himself in a hug, a phone call, a visit, or someone who comes along side us just when we need them. Jesus may make himself known when we feel as if we will be consumed by confusion, pain, suffering, loss of companionship, and hopelessness – Jesus may reveal himself in all of these occasions because the Road to Emmaus story “invites us” and “reminds us” to EXPECT JESUS to do the unexpected. Expect Jesus to come to us time and time again in Word, Water, Bread, Wine, and Relationships.

Pastor Dave