On the road to Emmaus

No where do we see our perception challenged as we do in the story of the road to Emmaus. We see the disciples walking back to their home town, discouraged after seeing the events of Jesus death and burial, wondering where all their hope has lead them. In the midst of this discussion, Jesus walks up to them. Despite the fact that they are talking about him, despite the fact that they had lived and worked with him, they do not recognize him.

What does this story tell us? Here are two disciples talking about Jesus, and when he comes into their midst, they do not know him. And so, what does Jesus do? He walks along with them, and joins in their discussion. He is to them what they think he is, a stranger.

I've often wondered if Jesus is to us what we think of him. If we treat him like a stranger, then he remains a stranger to us. If we treat him as a friend, then he becomes our friend. If we want him to be judge, then he is our judge, and if we want him to be savior, he is our savior.

Nowhere else can we so influence a relationship. Jesus, for whatever reason, approaches us as he is, but lets us see him as we believe. He is to us what we imagine. I find this thought fascinating, and something to ponder. It makes me examine the gospel story of the road to Emmaus carefully.

Jesus remained hidden to the two disciples all day long. Even though they talked about him, even though their hearts burned as he opened scripture and enlightened them to the words and meaning of the prophets, they did not recognize him. How we are so like these disciples! We busy ourselves with church, with functions, with sacraments and doctrine, and still we do not recognize. We carry out good deeds, read timely works, and pray. And yet we often keep Jesus a stranger to our hearts.

The disciples on the way only ‘saw’ Jesus when they treated him as a friend, invited him to "stay with us, for it is nearly evening, and the day is far spent." Or, better put, only when they made that stranger their friend, could Jesus then be that friend. He would not force recognition on them. He did not chide them for not seeing. He waited, and watched, and let them invite.

Such thoughts beg the question, what is my image of Jesus? Because Jesus will be that image to me.