Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus (uh·may·uhs), about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!  Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 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.

Everyday Spirituality

A note on translations

This past week I was remembering some scripture verses from memory, or that is, trying to remember them– scripture passages that I used to have memorized. But now, they are just on the edge of my memory, you know how that goes? So I wanted to review them, and reclaim them by memory, so to speak. But when I looked up the verse, it wasn’t quite the way I remembered it because I had memorized it in a different translation.

You know, most of the time we read from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV). But when I was a teenager, memorizing a lot of scripture, it was from the NASB, the New American Standard Bible. Now, that may seem insignificant to you. I mean, who cares, really? All the various translations are all still the Bible, after all.

But, on the other hand, it might make a difference for you. For example, I found that going back and reading from the New American Standard translation felt really good to me. It brought up a lot of good memories and associations. Maybe because the exact words that I memorized when I was 17 years old still inhabit a space in my brain that is the place where I am still 17 years old, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, here is my point. I encourage you to read from your favorite translation of the Bible. If you grew up reading from the King James version, you might enjoy going back to that from time to time. Or the Living Bible. Or the Revised Standard. There are so many translations. One might speak to you more than another. And so this might be a door that opens for you in exploring some of the various translations or going back to one that is most familiar to you.

So, I wanted to show you my new Bible. It’s a New American Standard translation. This little Bible is a complete Bible. (I’m going to have to get a magnifying glass.) But I really like it. It’s the version I memorized from when I was a kid, so this version speaks to me in a way that is familiar. For example, this verse from James is one that I keep coming back to. And in this translation, it resonates deeply with me:

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

So memorizing scripture is a wonderful exercise and excellent discipline. It will help your memory. You could even improve your memory. Memorizing scripture will help you in so many ways. So, I encourage you to do this. There are some guidelines for memorizing scripture, and that might be a good topic for me to write about in our newsletter.

Perspectives on the Resurrection

The season of Easter runs from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, which will be May 24^th this year. So, after today, we have four more Sundays in the Easter Season. During Easter, we focus on the resurrection and what it means for us.

The lectionary readings present several different perspectives on the resurrection. For example, on Easter Sunday, in the reading from Matthew, we saw the empty tomb through the eyes of the 2 Marys– Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. Then, last week, in the reading from John 20, we saw the empty tomb with Mary Magdalene alone. Remember, she says, “They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.” And then, she turns around and sees him standing there.

Audience and Purpose

Now, today, we take a look at this reading from Luke’s Gospel, the famous story called “The Road to Emmaus” or “The Walk to Emmaus.” We find this narrative only in Luke’s Gospel. So once again in our study of Matthew this year, we are stepping away from Matthew. But we can ask a question that is helpful in our study of Matthew. Why is the “Walk to Emmaus” not found in Matthew’s Gospel? And the answer is that each Gospel writer had a unique audience and purpose. By looking at the content of Luke’s Gospel, scholars can tell that Luke’s audience and Luke’s purpose were different from those of Matthew. Each Gospel writer has an audience and a purpose, that is, a message they are trying to convey to their particular audience.

Of course, this is a huge topic. But it is within our reach, as it pertains to Matthew, going forward this year. Through the course of the year’s readings, this is one of our goals. To understand what Matthew is doing and why he is doing it. For now, let’s just say that Luke’s audience and purpose is different from Matthew’s audience and purpose. And so that is why we find “The Road to Emmaus” in Luke only.

Contemplations found in the Emmaus story

This is a beautiful story, and it highlights several issues for us. First, how do we perceive the stranger? How do we treat strangers? Cleopus and the other disciple don’t recognize Jesus. Perhaps we don’t recognize Jesus when he appears to us. Can we see the divine in others? Are we missing something?

And then, we are given examples of everyday spirituality: the spirituality of walking, the spirituality of talking, and the spirituality of eating. And the basic teaching on this is, “pay attention.”

The Road to Emmaus is a well known story. It is often used as an object of contemplation for pilgrimages and retreats. A person working with the Emmaus story will read it and meditate on it, taking the story along as a companion, walking with the story and thinking about it. This is a practice that deepens the devotional heart.

The story takes place on the third day, the day of the resurrection. It centers on two disciples, one is named “Cleopus” and the other is not named. These two men are disciples, but they are not part of the original twelve, rather, they are from the group of 70 disciples mentioned in Luke Chapter 10. Cleopus and his friend are walking from Jerusalem to a village seven miles away called “Emmaus.” As they are walking and talking, a third man meets them on the road and walks with them. It’s Jesus, but they don’t recognize him. He asks them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?”

Spirituality of Walking

As a subject for contemplation, we could take this as question for us, too. You know, walking is such a wonderful thing to do, especially now that spring is here and the days are warmer, I know that many of us enjoy walking. Walking alone or walking with a friend. And so the spirituality of walking means to pay attention to walking, and as you walk, to be aware of each step. To really feel each step. Step after step. And when you do this, you begin to be aware of what a miracle walking is! Just walking.

Spirituality of Talking

And then, if you are talking with someone while you are walking, pay attention. “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking.” This is the spirituality of talking. Being mindful of what we are saying, and our intentions are in our speech.

You know, talking can be a good thing. But talking can also cause a lot of problems, depending on what is said. There are many reasons people engage in conversations. Sometimes talking is a way of connecting, developing friendships, generously and sincerely sharing our lives with others. But there can be other, less noble intentions driving a conversation. There are some words that have consequences. Talking about other people, for example. Gossiping. Criticizing others behind their back. Offering unsolicited advice. Minding somebody else’s business. You know? These kinds of conversations are not helpful, and they can be harmful. So this is the spiritual practice of talking. What we say matters. So we need to watch that and pay attention to our words and our intentions behind the words.

Spirituality of eating

Finally, there is the spirituality of eating. Notice in the story that Cleopus and his friend don’t recognize Jesus until he breaks the bread: “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.”

So here we have the first communion after the resurrection. It’s the first communion after the Last Supper. And in the breaking of the bread, Christ is recognized. This is the spirituality of eating. Each time we share communion together, we recognize Christ in each other. And each time we eat together as a church family, you know, when we have coffee hour together after Sunday morning worship, we can recognize Christ in each other. Coffee hour is a spiritual practice! It’s a very important one! And so in this way, we can see how eating food together, sharing this time together, becomes a spiritual practice.

These are the ways we can elevate our ordinary everyday experiences. So that these things become a way of life, a way of practicing Christian devotion, each moment, each day, in the ordinary activities of our life: walking, talking, eating together.

Invitation

The invitation this morning is to take this story from Luke into our everyday life. See how each day, we are walking on the Road to Emmaus, walking, talking, eating together. Can we recognize the Risen Christ right here? In our everyday activities each thing, each moment, each step, becomes our spiritual practice.

May it be so for you.

Amen? Amen.