Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

There are many things I could write about today. Like how the discipes didn’t recognise Jesus, and how I have had many times when He was close to me but I didn’t see Him. Or the power of the encounter urging the diciples to return to Jerusalem, and how moments of encounter in my life have filled me with zeal to tell the world about him!

But do you know what I mostly want to talk about? The disciples’ sadness. Their confusion and grief. There’s nothing like the weight of unfulfilled dreams to slow your steps and cause you to lower your eyes. I see their broken hearts. And hear the disapointment in their words “we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel…”

“We had hoped…” I hear unmet expectations, disappointment, unfulfilled dreams. I have lived that, and, honestly, I am living that today. It is hard to sit this side of the empty tomb and carry that. Today it is hard to walk in the light of His resurection. But, I take heart in the fact that Jesus came near to the disciples in their grief. I notice how He meets the broken hearted, the lonely, the disappointed. This is our Saviour. He doesn’t tell us to snap out of the hard stuff, He comes near and walks with us. We can find hope in that if we have eyes to see.

If you are feeling heavy and burdoned today, take some time to be with Jesus. Lift your eyes. Where is Jesus and what is His invitation to you? My prayer is that we will find Him right beside us!