In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, beginning with verse 13, through verse 35, we read the story of a remarkable occurrence later in the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two of Jesus’ followers were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem, when they were joined by a man they did not recognize. When he asked what they were discussing, they told him about the events of the last several days, and he spoke at length, interpreting the prophecies about the Messiah. Arriving at their destination, they convinced their unknown companion to share a meal with them, and when he took the bread, blessed and broke it, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Then, before they processed what they were seeing, he was gone! Can you imagine their elation, their joy. their eagerness to tell the others what had happened? They immediately returned to Jerusalem, met up with the disciples, and shared the news, to great rejoicing.
Have you ever gone to a reunion — school, home town celebration, extended family — and not recognized someone you’ve known for years? It’s happened to most of us — there are a lot of humorous remarks about trying to get a quick look at someone’s name tag before you look them in the face and greet them by name. A few years back, at a school event, a classmate called me over to a small cluster of people, telling me that someone there who wanted to talk to me. I walked toward the tall, silver-haired woman, turned to her and drew a total blank! Then she gave me a clue, reminding me that our dads were in the same business in two different small towns, and she smiled a sweet smile I remembered so well. I called her by name, and we hugged and laughed, and I said, “Of course, it’s you! I’d know you anywhere!” Well, not quite, obviously, but can’t you identify with that?
That’s what I think of when I read this story, and realize there may be any number of times when Jesus is in our midst, but we just don’t see that it’s him. We may not be aware of Jesus’ presence in the workplace, at school, in a park, the grocery store, or in our homes, but he is there, nonetheless. Our opportunities are endless, to say and do what we are called to say and do, as we go about our everyday lives. Our hearts and our eyes need to be open, to recognize the presence of our Lord wherever we are.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers