“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.” Luke 24:28-35

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, butit is the journey that matters in the end.” (Ursula K. Le Guin)

Verse 28 is significant – “As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.” This verse, although seemingly insignificant, needs to be developed for us, for it is an important point. Hospitality was a huge issue in first century Palestine. Jesus does not want to impose on these disciples by forcing them to offer him hospitality.   He moves to continue his journey, not forcing them to make room for him, to include him in their meal, to make a place for him to lay his head for the night.

Theologically, the message that we take is that Jesus never forces himself upon others. How many times have we met people who feel compelled to force Jesus on us in their conversation? Our Lutheran and Confessional understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit is that the spirit builds faith in people when and where the spirit chooses to work. 

We cannot force the Spirit of G-d or, in fact, Jesus Christ himself on others.  We simply need to expose people to G-d through word and deed, acts of love, and see when and if the Spirit begins a journey.

Pastor Dave