The Road to Emmaus is such a wonderful story. As I study it a couple segments jump out at me. When the un-recognized Jesus asks, "What things?" (. . have they been discussing?) the travelers STOP and stand still, "looking sad;" frozen in the moment, all action stilled by over-powering loss. It is the kind of pain that catches your breath in your throat. We've felt it at a friend's, parent's, spouse's, or child's death. Even the death of a dream can trigger the frozen response when it tears the future or a relationship away. Luke doesn't tell us how Jesus unfreezes these travelers but they continue telling their story. It seems to be a cathartic telling because the walking and talking continue and the dialogue gains energy. The travelers freeze once more but it is to stop Jesus and compel him into their home. Their moment of freedom comes as Jesus' gives thanks, breaks bread and gives it to them and in the breaking of bread he is known.
When we know Jesus and are known by Jesus, it is a moment frozen in time; a moment of transformation after which nothing is the same. It may be a dramatic reversal of direction or a moment of enlightened awareness when our hearts are touched, opened, and transformed.
Of course, the joyful response to such new vision and new direction is to jump up and run to tell everyone we know. . isn't it?
If so, we never tire of telling the story.
If not, why are we still frozen?
1 comment:
Your first paragraph is very helpful to me in the midst of my sermon writing process. I was having trouble expressing why the disciples stopping made such an impact on me as I read this text. Thank you for the insight.
And welcome to revgals!
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