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UsWednesday, March 26, 2008
Luke 24:13-32 Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him ... as they approached the village they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Jesus' words and presence drive them to share what they experience with others. In their excitement they can't keep it to themselves. He has conquered death. This changes everything. The kingdom of God is near. All the world over it's easy to see. People everywhere ... Jesus calls himself the bridegroom. He slips a ring on my finger. Now I sit quietly at night, pulling the ring off, putting it back on. I remember his touch and my heart burns again. I remember his words of love. And I can't wait to tell somebody. Jesus calls us together. Where two or three are gathered, "there am I." In Emmaus the disciples turned around and went back to Jerusalem that same night to tell their brothers. And soon they would all be telling great crowds what they knew of Jesus. I might have blinders on for a time. My eyes and all of me shut to Jesus. I see nothing of his smile, hear nothing of his encouragement, feel nothing of his intense love. But when I walk with others, talk and pray with them, Jesus shows up. (No, make that ... I show up. He's been there all along.) He breaks bread again with us. He makes all things new. He leaves our hearts burning again and again and over again. You made us, Lord, and you know us better than we know ourselves. We are made to be loved and love one another, and you are always there for the party. |
After three years of side-by-side, day-by-day-by-day companionship, Jesus now appears for a moment here, an hour there. He always leaves his disciples with their "hearts burning." They are becoming his representatives rather than just his followers.