Companions on the Way: 3rd Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

On the first day of the week, two of Jesus' followers were going to a village called Emmaus, 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.

REFLECTION

John Dunne's famous poem No Man is an Island is reflected not only through human experience and two thousand years of Christian experience, it is modeled so well by Jesus in the Emmaus story as he and his disciples talk, walk, share, and know. It is through the talking, walking and sharing that the "knowing" that is, mutual intimacy, takes place.

Talking: as reflected in this classic biblical story means primarily communicating.  All intimate relationships are characterized by, primarily, two things: trust and communication.  But communicating is more than just talking, it requires active listening more than anything else.  See how attentive Jesus is  to the men on the road.  Before he states anything, first he asks a question.  He wants to get to know his interlocutors more intimately.  I believe that if the various communities than we are a part of are going to experience unity, peace and sense of shared mission, we first have to learn to listen and then talk to one another.   Once communication and trust is establiashed we can begin...

Walking:  Jesus was a peripatetic; his was a ministry by walking around.  But his walking was not just geographic.  Jesus walked with people by sharing their burdens, hopes, dreams, joys and sufferings. Walking with others in the Christian journey is safer, smarter and necessary in the community-building that's is indispensable to the Christian life and modes of being.  If the greatest commandment is to love  God and neighbor there can be no short cuts in walk with them.

Sharing:  One of the greatest signs of intimate friendship in New Testament Palestine is the shared meal.  After talking  and walking Jesus shares and receives intimacy over a meal.  As Tim Chester writes in Meaningful Meals:

"Food matters. Meals matter. Meals are full of significance. Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal. . . . Someone with whom we share food is likely to be our friend, or well on the way to becoming one."

Yet it's important to remember that Jesus ate with publicans, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners as well as with his own disciples thereby expressing his desire for friendship with all of whims he encountered.

As we reflect on the road to Emmaus story we do well to consider our own role in building community by walking, talking, sharing, and finally knowing others.  It then becomes easier to "love our neighbors as ourselves."