#emmaus

[chantssecrets]

Supper at Emmaus or The Pilgrims at Emmaus, 1648, oil on mahogany panel, painting by Rembrandt.

[writtenonhigh]

“That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?””—‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭13‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[momentsbeforemass]

The road away

Today’s Gospel is the one about the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It’s a real town, a suburb of Jerusalem that goes by Al Qubeiba these days. But the name really doesn’t matter.

What matters is the name of the road. Because whatever you call the town, the road to it really isn’t the road to anything. In truth, it’s the road away.

For the disciples who are headed home, with the tragedy and horror of Good Friday fresh in their minds, with their hearts broken? For them, it’s the road away from the Jesus they knew and followed.

It’s the road away from deliverance. The road away from healing. The road away from hope.

You and I know exactly how it feels. Because we’ve gotten our hearts broken too, and found ourselves walking down the road away.

Maybe it was the road away after a death. Maybe it was the road away from a relationship that didn’t work out. Maybe it was the road away from sobriety. Maybe it was the road away from family that rejected us. Maybe it was the road away from faith.

Whatever it was, whether someone did it to us, we did it to ourselves, or it just happened, the reason we’re on the road away really doesn’t matter. Because it all hurts just as much.

But no matter what heartbreak sets us on the road away, just like the disciples in today’s Gospel, there’s Someone waiting for us on the road away.

Right in the middle of your heartbreak, the God who made you, the One who has always loved you, is waiting for you. Just for the chance to be with you.

Just for the chance to walk with you, at your pace.

To listen to you, as it all comes tumbling out.

To talk with you, about what’s breaking your heart. 

To love you, unconditionally.

To stay with you, always.

To heal you, for however long it takes.

Until the road away becomes the road to Home.

Today’s Readings

[eternelle-chenille]

Place du jeu de Balle, Bruxelles

[fukusigma]

Our president is having a casserole problem, and the advertisers show they have a better understanding of French people than he does.

Ikea edition:

Emmaus edition:

[rosewind2007]

My local priest (I am an atheist, but he’s a good man and someone I count as a friend) apparently got a little pushback from some members of his flock for using this image as a focus of a sermon…

Emmanuel Garibay, ‘Emmaus’

I think it’s great, and bought home one of the ones he printed out

My spouse and older child saw it

Spouse: “Oh, is that you?”

Child: “Yay! Trans Jesus!”

As local priest said, both good responses and theologically attuned

[yagodichjagodic]

Emmaus remains the most magical of places (even while blanketed in melting snow)

[christliche-kunstwerke]

Das Abendmahl in Emmaus von Vincenzo di Biagio Catena (1520, Öl auf Leinwand)