The road to Emmaus is a story about the road of life that could be told about any one of us. Like the two disciples on their journey, we often encounter Jesus in unexpected ways and unexpected places on our own journey. He remains hidden from our eyes, but opens our hearts and enlightens our minds to show us the way through our struggles. This is essentially what happens to the main characters in the post resurrection stories, especially the disciples on their way to Emmaus.
These two disciples begin their journey in confusion and sadness—sad because Jesus is their leader and friend who recently suffered a cruel death, and confused because Jesus was not who they had wanted him to be. They thought Jesus would be a great warrior who would restore Israel’s rightful place of honor among nations. Instead, Jesus was betrayed by the leaders of his own religion, while the enemy of Israel remains firmly in place. And, here they are, explaining all this to a stranger who joined them uninvited and is apparently unaware of all these events.
So, they pour out their hearts telling the stranger all about Jesus. What they did not expect was to have been taught so much by the stranger. Much less did they expect the stranger to be Jesus himself. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Jesus vanishes from their sight at the very moment they discover him in the breaking of bread with others. Perhaps this is how Jesus shows us that now he dwells with us, and we dwell with him and with each other, in new and unexpected ways.
The Emmaus story calls to mind the many suppers Jesus had with tax collectors and those on the fringe during his life. Intentionally socializing with those on the margin is how he sought to break down the barriers that separate and divide us. Even at the last supper, Jesus broke bread with his betrayer, and washed the feet of his disciples to show them how to serve others in humility. These events show us that Jesus remains with us and continues to teach us and show us the way. Thus, Jesus has not vanished at all. The challenge for us today is to look for him in the right places—where he can be found.
Looking for Jesus in the right places was the challenge for the main characters in the post resurrection stories. They were looking in all the wrong places, expecting to see Jesus as a certain kind of person in a certain place. For that reason, they were unable to see the real Jesus right before their eyes. A friend of mine once illustrated this point to me by explaining his view of being caught in slow traffic.
According to his explanation, our impatience with slow drivers in front of us inspires us to pray for a faster pace to get where we want to be. At such times, we don’t think of the slow drivers as the messengers of Jesus, slowing us down to save us from a fatal accident ahead of us. My friend makes an interesting point, although I do not know what he would say to someone who had to endure a more serious struggle.
I am certain, however, that Jesus provides all the support and guidance we need no matter what we are going through, even if we don’t ask for it, or do not recognize Jesus as the source. In times of trouble, we can be like the two disciples traveling to Emmaus. Our anxiety and lack of trust keep us from realizing Jesus is right there with us. Jesus always travels with us even though we are not aware of his presence. This guarantee motivates Paul to claim in his letter to the Hebrews that the Lord will never forsake us or abandon us. “Thus, we may say with confidence, the Lord is my helper…What can anyone do to me” (Heb 13:5-6; Ps 118:6).
We forget that Jesus often comes to us disguised as the marginalized, the poor, the hungry, the least of his children. All we see, however, is the irritating associate who longs for and needs our patience; the caring friend who gives the unsolicited but loving advice; the expert healer who cares for us but does not understand our pain. We see the vulnerable, the addict, the homeless, the stranger—but we do not see Jesus. We are like the Emmaus travelers. We see the stranger who needs to be taught, but we do not expect the stranger to teach us.
In the same way, we come to the table of the Lord expecting to see only bread and wine, but we do not see the hidden Jesus longing for our arrival. We do not see Jesus in others and in ourselves because we do not expect to see Jesus. We think Jesus is somewhere else, hidden from our view. The prophet Isaiah understands our insecurity in this regard, and for that reason says to us, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Is 55:6).
As the powerful post resurrection stories reveal, Jesus is not put off by our doubt, our confusion, or our fear. Jesus is the seeker who comes looking for us and finds us where we are on the road of life. He is not discouraged or deterred by our expectations for him. He came to show us the Father and the way to his home, our home. Jesus does this in unexpected places, in unexpected ways, with unexpected people to unite himself to each of us and with each other in the bond of love.
This is the whole point of breaking of bread with others. This communal meal is an act of peace that tears down the barriers between us and brings us together. When we break bread with others, Jesus abides in each of us. In union with Jesus, we become the new body of Christ. Then, in the words of St. Paul to the Galatians, we can say it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in each of us (Gal 2:20).
No comments:
Post a Comment