First Hand Christians
Luke 24:13-35
The road to Emmaus story. Two of Jesus’ followers, Cleopas and a companion are joined
by Jesus as they are walking home from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. It is later in the day on Easter Day,
the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
This story appears only in Luke’s gospel and Cleopas is not mentioned
anywhere else. Scholars aren’t
real sure where the village of Emmaus is, either. Regardless of whether or not we can confirm the historical
details of this story, it has important implications for us as Christians
today.
Listen to what one commentator writes about Luke’s telling
of the Emmaus story (Fred Craddock, Interpretation
Commentary):
There is no doubt that
Luke is writing not only the story of Jesus but also that of the church which
knows him in these ways. The importance
of experiencing the living Christ in word and sacrament cannot be
overemphasized. There were, says
Luke, special appearances of the resurrected Christ to a number of his
followers. In fact, Luke says that
such appearances continued for forty days before he was received up into glory
(Acts 1:1-11). Yet were that the
whole of the story, all believers except those select few would experience only
the absence of Jesus, fated to try to keep faith alive on the thin diet of
these reports of his having once been seen by others. Thus all subsequent generations would have been secondhand
Christians, removed by time and place from the Camelot of Luke-Acts. But Luke here tells us that the living
Christ is both the key to our understanding of the Scriptures and the very
present Lord who is revealed to us in the breaking of bread. His presence at the table makes all
believers first-generation Christians and every meeting place Emmaus.
There is no reason to doubt that the story Luke tells here
about Jesus, about Jesus coming to meet two disciples on the road, is
true. But Luke is also telling a
story about his Christian community.
About how they continued, first hand, to encounter the living Christ in
the sharing and interpretation of Scripture and in the breaking of the
bread. So this is our story,
too. About how we encounter the
risen, living Christ firsthand. As
we gather to share God’s word and to break bread at the Lord’s table.
Thinking about Luke telling the story of how his community
encounters the living Christ, I got to thinking how I would tell the story of
this community encountering Jesus alive with us. Of course, like the early Christians, we meet Jesus as he
speaks to us from the Scriptures and as he offers himself to us in Holy
Communion. But I would also tell a
story set in the undercroft where we gather in caring and conversation. Where Jesus is active and revealed in
acts of compassion and conversations of care for one another. And stories of outreach, where Jesus’
hands work with us to care for the “least of these.”
As I followed this train of thought I began to think about
my own life beyond the life of this Christian community. When and where do I encounter the
living Christ in my life.
I could tell a story about a solitary individual, it could
be me or any number of other people, taking time for prayer of reading of
Scripture. Maybe with a candle
lit, saying the daily office and reading the Bible and meeting Jesus
there. Or I think about a clergy
group I’m in—all women Rectors. We
gather once a month for conversation and support. Jesus often sits with us.
But as I really thought about the sweep of my daily life, there’s
a whole lot of it where I am not aware of the risen Christ with me.
As you might imagine, I’m dreading the physical move that’s
ahead, and I’m just beginning to start thinking about sorting things to move
and things not to move. What if I
were to chuck out from my life every thing and every activity where I am not
aware of the risen Christ? What if
I were to just sweep away every thing I have and every thing I do that does not
lead me to encounter the living Christ.
A lot of the mundane things and activities that fill up everyday life
would be gone.
Think about that in your life. Imagine getting rid of everything that isn’t alive with
Christ for you.
What would be left?
Not much? Would
your life, like mine, have huge gaps of time and space if you eliminated
everything where you don’t perceive the presence of Christ?
Assuming we want to be closer to Jesus and know him more
deeply, there are two things we can do to fill those gaps.
First, do more of those things where we do encounter
Jesus. Spend more time in prayer
or Bible study or common worship.
More than just that token every now and then.
And, second, retune our awareness to see Christ present with
us in aspects of our lives where we may not expect to find him. When we fail to see the living
Christ with us in many of the activities of our daily lives, it is not because
he is not there. It is because we
fail to see him. Remember, even
Cleopas and his companion did not recognize Jesus right away. They were not expecting to see him
there. Sometimes it takes time or
focus to see Jesus in places where we may not expect to find him.
Attentiveness, mindfulness, prayer are ways to do that. I know I’ve shared at least a portion
of these prayers with you before.
I first encountered them many years ago and they really made an
impression. They are prayers of
Chinese Christians said to accompany many everyday activities (From the Oxford Book of Prayer, ed. George
Appleton).
A prayer to be said while washing clothes:
I pray thee, Lord, to
wash my heart, making me white as snow.
A prayer while pruning a tree:
I pray thee, Lord, to
purge me and take away my selfishness and sinful thoughts, that I may bring
forth more fruits of the Spirit.
When posting a letter:
I pray thee, Lord, to
add to me faith upon faith, that I may always have communication with thee.
Short prayers for mundane, daily activities. Reminding us that Jesus is with us and
praying for his transforming power in our lives.
So Luke’s story about the road to Emmaus leaves us with
several things to think about. In
your life, on what occasions, activities, or places do you encounter firsthand
the risen Christ? And how
much of your life do those experiences encompass? If there are gaps and if you would like to know Christ more
and better, do more of those things where you find him and work at seeing him
in those other aspects of your life.
He is there.
