Readings:
Acts 2:14a,36-41;
Psalm 116:1-3, 10-end;
1 Peter: 1:17-23;
Luke 24:13-35

Collect:
Risen Christ,
you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:
strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
and fill us with your peace,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Reflection - The Road to Emmaus, text: Luke 24:13-35

The bible text for this Sunday is the story of two Disciples who were on a journey shortly after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Cleopas and another unnamed disciples were taking short trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about seven miles to Jerusalem. Even though they had left Jerusalem behind, they could not leave behind the thoughts and despair they carried with them about the death of their teacher when a stranger drew close to them and joined in their discussion as they walked towards their destination. The stranger shared with Cleopas and his companion what the Prophets and the scripture had spoken about the messiah.

When they reached Emmaus, they invited the stranger to stay with them as it was getting dark and over the evening meal, the stranger blessed the bread and gave it to them. Their eyes became opened once they ate the bread and immediately recognised that the “stranger” that had been walking with them was Jesus Christ himself and they immediately return to Jerusalem to tell the eleven disciples that “it is true! The Lord has risen”.

1.      We are also on the road to Emmaus 
The journey to Emmaus is the journey from despair to faith - like Cleopas and his co-disciple, we too are on a trip. We spend a lot of time in our lives travelling for different reasons, some of which involves doubt, despair and pain. We have doubt and despair in times when things are not working properly, with good example being the on-going coronavirus issue that seem to confound everyone on earth. Even though we may not be on a physical journey like these two disciples, we must note that we are travelling the same road of faith just like them and as we do, we may experience doubt and despair in times of sickness or during some bad events that may cause us ask “where is God in all of this and why will he permit such things to happen?” 

2.      Jesus draws close to us first
In this great time of despair, Jesus drew closer to the disciples even though they were blinded to his presence by doubt and despair – He joined them on the road and travelled with them walking no faster or slower than them. Jesus met the disciples where they were, not where they should be or where they ought to be even though they were walking away from Jerusalem, the very place that represented the presence of God in the scripture. This is one of the great (and good) news of this story because Christ was present with them at one of their lowest points, he did not wait for them to seek him, rather he was the one that sought them.

The important point that we must always keep in mind especially when we are going through difficult phase in life is that  - it is not about the presence or absence of God, rather it is about our presence or absence from God who is already there, a God that is always present. 

3.      Opportunity to show love to a stranger
Jesus presented Himself to the two disciples as a stranger on a journey. It was a test for them. If they were truly Jesus’s disciples, would they treat this stranger the same way they’d treat Jesus if it was Him? They called themselves disciples of Jesus, but now it was time to prove it. He taught them that they should love their neighbours as themselves. Now they had a chance to do that. Jesus calls us to treat every single person we meet, no matter what they look like or how they treat us as if we were interacting with Him. He wants us to love others the way He loves us, and the way we should love Him in return. Do we see Jesus in everyone we meet? If we did, I think it would change the way we treated people.

4.      The wonders of welcoming
The disciples did not fully experience the presence of Jesus Christ until they invited him to stay and broke bread with them. Therefore, the ministry of our Partnership must have the hospitality of Christ at its core and this hospitality and welcome will create the environment for the kingdom of God to be realised and alive, and where the good news of the living, loving God is experienced.

The two disciples went from the state of doubt and despair to the state of faith when they experienced the presence of Jesus and realised that he had resurrected. And just like them, If we feel our hearts burning within us in our moments of doubt and despair, then sooner or later our eyes will be opened and we will recognise that Jesus is with us, he is travelling with us to bring us to faith in his Resurrection. He is with us throughout our lifetime trials.

Conclusion – Emmaus: The road to nowhere
We really don’t know where Emmaus is located. Several possibilities have been surfaced, but perhaps vagueness is a virtue. In not localizing Emmaus, we can be open to the possibility that Emmaus is everywhere. Wherever we are on the road and at every mealtime, Jesus comes to us, filled with energy and possibility, and the joy of resurrection.

Adedayo Adebiyi