Wednesday, April 23—Day 50

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24: 13-35

Eyes to See
The road to Emmaus is the place where the disciples see the risen Christ, and, yet do not recognize Him. They walk and talk with Him, He shows them the way, yet, they fail to see that He is the risen Christ. How often have our own eyes prevented us from seeing Jesus? Are there times we long for belief to see, but lack it? We hear the men tell Jesus of the women and the empty tomb, we see their doubt, disbelief, and sadness. We hear Jesus’ response, “O foolish men and slow of heart...” I wonder if that causes us to pause and question if we would recognized Jesus? We see that, then, Jesus tells of himself, yet the men still do not see. Does the irony in this story make you smile? Jesus, the risen Lord, is right before them, yet they do not see Him. How like God to be right there with us, and how like us to not quickly recognize Him. Yet, He is with us. Our journey through Lent seems similar to the road to Emmaus, where we intentionally gaze upon the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We have the opportunity to journey with Him in our messy lives. How might you have seen Jesus on your path today? What might Jesus be inviting you to see your life?

The men invite Jesus to stay, and He does. He dines with them. He breaks the bread. Their eyes are opened. Jesus vanishes. This causes them to ponder and reflect on their experiences of the road to Emmaus – what talking and walking with Jesus was like. They realize that their hearts burned within. They see; they believe the Lord has risen! What is it like to reflect on our own path with Jesus? I wonder what it would mean for us to truly see?

Consider the art for today. How do you see the same themes of sadness, and doubt? How are they contrasted with belief and assurance in this painting? What does the light and shadow make you think?  What about the man’s face? He seems to be frozen by what is taking place in front of him. The other man falls on his knees before Jesus. Which if the two attitudes might you respond with? Look at Jesus. What do you think as you gaze at him? Take in the whole picture. What moment is captured here for us to reflect on?

I invite you to close your eyes and listen to the worship. To sit in a posture of amazement and gratitude that Christ has risen.
Chelsea DeLuca, Graduate Student, Institute of Spiritual Formation

Prayer
Hallelujah Christ has risen! Lord, thank you for allowing us to see the risen Christ.  There is no other God like You, You walk with us, You talk with us, and You lead us on the path. You take time for us. You are with us. You are patient with us when we are here babbling, here not seeing you as you stand before us. You are gracious to us in our foolishness. We are grateful. Amen.