BREAKING BREAD

When have you experienced God’s breath of hope and new life? How might unbelief become places of growth?

Two disciples meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus makes himself known to them in breaking open the scriptures and in breaking the bread. Jesus invites us to know him, and we too encounter the risen Christ in these ways. We join all disciples in responding to Jesus’ call to love deeply from the heart.

Scripture Readings (click on the links to go to Bible Gatreway)

Focus Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Today we read another account of the events of the day of resurrection, this time from Luke’s gospel. Two disciples, Cleopas and perhaps his wife, are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, talking over the events of the preceding days and the puzzling story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus in the garden. They are sad, disappointed, and confused. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, come to bring political deliverance for Israel. It is not known where Emmaus was, but it is described as about 11 km or 7 mi from Jerusalem,– a good two-hour walk, far enough to allow time for lengthy conversation and speculation.

As they walk along, Jesus comes near them, but they do not recognize him. He asks about their conversation, and they tell him the story of the previous week in Jerusalem. Jesus breaks open them the Hebrew Scriptures,– stories of Moses and the prophets that tell how the Messiah must suffer in order to bring about God’s plan for salvation.

When they reach Emmaus, the two urge Jesus to stay with them because it is almost evening. Jesus has a meal with them. Though he is the guest, he takes the role of host,– blessing and breaking the bread, and giving it to them. These are the actions at the Passover meal (the Last Supper) described in Luke 22:19,– actions continued today in the liturgy of Communion. The table is the place where these two disciples came to know Jesus more deeply. The table is the place where disciples today gather to be nourished by the Bread of Life.

Jesus vanishes, and the two return to Jerusalem to share their joy with the others. They hear that the risen Christ has appeared to the disciples. It is good news for us that Christ appears not just to the eleven (Judas, the 12th disciple, died after betraying Jesus) but to other followers as well. Like Cleopas and the other, we encounter the holy at unexpected moments. They recognize the risen Christ in the breaking open of scripture and in the blessing, breaking, and sharing of bread. In these ways, Christ also is known to us.

Throughout the Easter season, we read stories of the early church from Acts. Today we engage Acts 2:14a,36-41, a portion of a sermon preached by Peter. He proclaims that Jesus is the promised Messiah and calls on the crowd of listeners to turn their lives around,– to repent and follow God’s ways. Three thousand people respond to Peter’s message and are baptized. Baptism from very early days is the ritual for entering new life in Christ.

God’s promise extends to all who call on God. Psalm 116 is a prayer of thanksgiving for healing. The psalmist gives thanks that God hears the prayers of the faithful.

The early Christians to whom First Peter 1:17-23 is addressed are living in fear, feeling alienated from their society. The writer proclaims that Jesus’ life’s work, death, and resurrection provide the sign and seal on the relationship between God and God’s people. They are encouraged to set their faith and hope on God, and to love “deeply from the heart.” They, as we, have been born anew through the living word of God.

Jesus invites God’s people to know who he is. Jesus was made known to the early disciples through the scriptures and the breaking of bread. How do you experience the risen Christ in your own life? In what ways are you nourished by the scriptures and Communion? What gives you the strength to witness to others about the power of God’s love?

REFLECTION

Risen Christ, at Emmaus, you met the two as you walked with them. Be our companion on the way. Open the scriptures to us. Feed us with the bread of life, and give us courage to witness to your love wherever our journeys take us. Amen.

 

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