Sunday 06 April 2008

Background

This story is unique to Luke and is the most detailed accountthat he gives of an appearance of Jesus after his resurrection. Itis evening and two dispirited people are travelling to a villagenot far from Jerusalem at the end of the Passover celebrations.They had been part of Jesus' circle of followers but they werestruggling to understand why he had died and what the news of theempty tomb meant.

We are told that the stranger they met was the risen Jesus, but forreasons we may find hard to fathom they did not recognise him. Itwas the familiar action of taking, blessing, breaking and sharingbread that finally opened their eyes. Only then could they lookback on the conversation as they walked. They realised that the waytheir 'hearts burned' as the Scriptures were interpreted for themin a new way was also a sign of the stranger's identity.

They rushed back to their friends to tell them what had happenedand found that in different ways others had also experienced thepresence of the risen Christ. And so they became part of a growingcommunity of faith.

At all the stages of their journey Jesus was with them - when theywere confused, when they were asking questions, when their heartswere moved by Scripture and when they were in table fellowship withthe risen Lord. It must have been a great help to Luke's readers tobe assured that Jesus could be with them too, even if they couldnot see him.

To Ponder

As you look back can you recognise experienceswhen Jesus has been with you without you realising it at the time?What was it that made you realise Jesus had been with you?

How would you try to explain that experience toyour friends?

What do you look for in the Church? Maybe a placewhere you can honestly ask your questions or a place where you canhave everything explained?