St. Marks United Methodist Church

Eastertide Communion *  April 6, 2008  *  St. Marks UMC

“When God Became a Jewish Carpenter”

Part XIV-  “No Longer a Stranger”

By Terry L Pontius

Reading- Luke 24:13-34

 

   Cleopas and his companion, let’s call her Martha, have just left Jerusalem on the seven mile walk home to the village of Emmaus.  The Sunday afternoon sun is sinking in the sky.  They plod down the road without speaking; yet they share the same heaviness.

  They had put their deepest trust and highest hopes in a man from Galilee, named Jesus, a carpenter turned prophet. They had come to know and love Jesus as a dear friend.  Whenever Jesus visited Jerusalem, they had followed him around the city.  Their hearts had burned at his words of truth.  They had thrilled at his miracles.  And when Lazarus stepped from the darkness of the tomb at Jesus’ command, they were convinced that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah.  They had been expecting Jesus to make his claim and rescue Israel.

But three days ago, Jesus, who had raised the dead, whom they had hoped to be the Messiah, was crucified on a cross.  His blood was spilled in the dust.  His body was sealed in a tomb.  Now, what is left to hope for or to believe in?  The burning that was once in their hearts is replaced by a rock of lead in their guts.  There is nothing left to do but to go home.

To make matters worse, earlier today they heard rumors that the tomb was found empty.  Wasn’t his death enough?  Why did they stoop to rob his grave?

After walking awhile, Cleopas and Martha begin sharing their pain, when  they hear footsteps coming up behind them.  They step aside to let the overtaking traveler pass them; but the stranger falls in stride alongside them.  He asks, “What are all these things you are talking about?  Tell me about them.”

They stop on the road.  Not able to look up, Cleopas, emoting his grief and disappointment, snaps back at the stranger, “How could you be in Jerusalem and not know about what’s happened in the past few days?”

“What things?”  “About Jesus of Nazareth!” they reply.  “He was a prophet from God!  Our own Chief Priests and rulers saw to it that he was crucified.  We had so hoped and believed he was sent from God to save our people!  Now he is dead!  Those who discovered his tomb empty claim that angels told them Jesus is alive.  But as far as we know, nobody has SEEN Jesus.  Now there is nothing left to do but go back home…but to what?”

As the three continue on the road the stranger begins, “Don’t you YET understand?  How slow you are to believe what the prophets have made so clear!”  Startled at the authority in the stranger’s voice, Martha and Cleopas listen with interest. “Don’t you realize that the Christ had to suffer these things in order to obtain his glorious victory?” The stranger begins with Moses and goes through the prophets explaining what each had to reveal about the coming of the Christ.  As they walk, the miles fly by.

Before they realize it, they are approaching Emmaus.  It’s nearly dark.  As they come to the street where Cleopas and Martha live, the stranger bids them farewell and turns to continue on the road.  But Cleopas and Martha plead with their new friend, “Please stay with us in our home!  It’s getting late. We would be honored to have you as our guest.”  So, the stranger goes home with them.

They spread a simple supper at their table and the three sit down together.  Unexpectedly, the stranger takes the bread, as though he is the host.  He holds it up and thanks God for it.  Then he breaks it into portions. As he hands the bread to Cleopas and Martha, his eyes meet theirs with an incredible look of  understanding and love!

In that instant, Cleopas and Martha are overcome with an astounding revelation.  It’s as though someone has rolled away the stone from the tomb of their hearts and sunlight comes streaming in.  The way those hands thankfully broke bread…his welcome gesture in serving them… They had seen and felt this before!  And that look—that penetrating, warm gaze of love!  They had experienced this “presence” from only one person.  Could it really be him?  It could be ONLY HIM! Are those scars in his hands?  YES!  IT IS HIM! HE LIVES! THAT SAME BURNING IN OUR HEARTS HAS RETURNED!  HE LIVES!

Astonished, Martha and Cleopas turn to each other; but when they turn their eyes back to Jesus, he is gone!  As mysteriously as he appeared, he is gone!  Leaving the unfinished meal, they rush back to Jerusalem in the darkness to share their joy with the others.

A beautiful story to tell at Eastertide Communion; but what “Word from God” can be found in this story for Disciples of 2008?

Cleopas and Martha were caught in a Faith Storm.  The foundation of their faith had been shaken…their brightest hope had been shattered.  They had finally found the One who ignited their hearts, who inspired hope for deliverance and everlasting life; but it was all taken away! Or so they thought.  Jesus, the life-giver was dead.  They were disappointed in God.  They were headed back home.

Aren’t there days in each of our journeys when we are brought down by a Faith Storm?  Something happens that shatters our hopes.  Our firm faith-foundation crumbles.  What we thought we could always count on is destroyed.  What we hoped for now seems impossible. And we are left disappointed in God for allowing such a thing to happen.  Any sense of God’s activity in our life, any feeling of God’s presence in our heart is all past tense.  I’ve been there; perhaps you have too.

A Faith Storm drives us to a desolate place-- a place where our hearts yearn to experience Jesus once again… to feel his touch, to hear his whisper, to be held in his embrace, to feel the burning of his presence.  Though Jesus is there all the time, our heart-pain deadens our senses.  We cannot feel his touch through the pain, nor see his face through the rain.  We no longer expect the “Presence” we long for. 

But like with the Storm Walkers on the Emmaus road, Jesus comes to US, even when OUR trust in God has been shaken, even when WE are disappointed in God.  Or should I say ESPECIALLY when we are faith-fallen and disillusioned.  In fact, Christ is always present to us, even though we feel cut-off from him.  Jesus is always one step behind us, gently tapping us on the shoulder, waiting us for us to turn around.

One turn-around moment for Martha and Cleopas was when they stopped and allowed the stranger to walk with them.  They could have said, “Please, we’re in no mood for conversation.  We need to be alone!”; but they allowed the stranger to join them.  As they walked and talked, their confusion began to clear and smoldering embers in their hearts were re-ignited.  They didn’t yet recognize it was Jesus; but by the time they reached home, they knew they wanted this stranger to stay!

Finally, as they gathered at the table, when he broke the bread they knew him!  Yet, all that time, from the moment they met on the road, though they did not recognize him….Jesus had been nursing their wounded hearts back to faith and hope.  Even before they recognized Jesus, things began to make sense and the burning in their hearts was rekindled!

Could it be that Jesus sometimes comes to us in much the same way?  At times and places and in ways we least expect?  When we are walking down the Road of Disillusionment, it may be difficult for us to recognize or even expect his approach.  The question is- Are we willing to allow Jesus to encounter us in whatever way he chooses?  Will we allow him to join us in unexpected ways, at least expected times and in surprising places?  Will we entertain the stranger who takes an interest in our pain and confusion?

Perhaps the most common way Christ comes to us is through the Scriptures.  When the two on the road shared with Jesus their disappointment, the first thing Jesus said was, “You wouldn’t be so confused had you listened to what’s been written all along in the Prophets.” Jesus began with Moses and showed them the purpose of his death.  It was while he opened the scriptures to them that their hearts began to burn.

Yet today, a primary pathway by which Christ’s presence burns in our hearts and renews our eroded faith is through the guidance, hope and comfort of the scriptures.  Many a sinking, faith-shaken soul has been buoyed up by the promises of God’s Word.

Often Jesus comes to us disguised by the face of a fellow believer.  There was a time when my wounded faith was nursed back to health through the childlike faith of a woman named Caddie…until the day came that Jesus’ presence burned within me again.  Perhaps Jesus is trying to touch you through the care and listening ear of a fellow believer.

At times, like on the Emmaus Road, we don’t recognize the presence or power of Jesus renewing us until after he’s walked with us a few miles.  But the question remains- Am I open to however, whenever, wherever Jesus chooses to come to me?  Am I willing to receive the stranger who offers to walk with me in the midst of my Faith Storm?

There is yet another way Christ comes to us in a storm…a very common, familiar and often occurring path to us.   It was that familiar act of breaking the bread…that was the moment he became fully known to them.  That is the sacred act Jesus told us to repeat…to break the bread and drink from the cup.  When we do this often, remembering his broken body and poured-out blood with a thankful, penitent heart….when we do it together…his love can refill us and bind us together.

Art and Esther had been married over 50 years.  Art became forgetful, disoriented.  Esther kept him at home, until his wandering and forgetfulness became unsafe.  So, Esther drove to the Alzheimers unit every day to be with Art.

In time, Art lost recognition of most everybody he loved…even Esther.  Yet still, she visited him every day.  It must have hurt when he just stared blankly as she kissed him hello.  It must have hurt even more when he told her the woman across the hall was his girlfriend.

Esther came to our Christmas Memorial service for those who have lost loved ones.  With tears in her eyes, she lighted a candle and said it felt as through she had already lost her husband.

One afternoon I arranged to meet Esther at the care center to have Holy Communion together with her and Art.  I thought it would at least be a comfort to Esther.  But as we said those oft repeated words…and ate the bread…and sipped from the cup…a miracle happened.  When we broke the bread, Art was suddenly with us, and so was Jesus!  Esther and I both saw that glint of recognition in Art’s eyes, and felt that shared sacred moment.  There was a sense of presence, of comfort, of recognition that was brief, yet so real.  Maybe the familiarity and repetition of this sacred act over the years helped to make it so real this one, last time.  Art lapsed back into his vacant stare…but Esther’s joy over that moment became a precious keepsake.

Now, as we break the bread together, remembering his broken body…and dip in the cup, remembering his poured out blood…may he become known to us.   May this be a moment in which Jesus mysteriously becomes real to us…. A moment that his resurrection presence burns in our hearts and his love binds us together.