Note 1: <\/strong>All quotes in the sermon are from the English Standard Version.<\/p>\n Note 2: <\/strong>This initial portion of this might be used as the basis for a Children\u2019s message. For clarity, I have put that portion in parentheses. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the \u201cusual\u201d sermon, or inserted at a later time in the sermon.<\/p>\n \n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen<\/em><\/p>\n (Have you heard of Clark Kent? Well, if you have watched any of the Superman movies or cartoons, you might know that Clark Kent is the \u201cdisguise\u201d that Superman uses so that he isn\u2019t recognized by everyone when he wants to go unnoticed. OR, how about Adam West? In a similar way, Adam West is the \u201cdisguise\u201d that Batman uses so that he can go unnoticed. Part of the suspense of the Superman movies or cartoons is, \u201cWill the disguise work, or will people recognize Superman beneath the disguise?\u201d Part pf the suspense of the Batman movies or cartoons is, \u201cWill the disguise work, or will people recognize Batman beneath the disguise?\u201d Well, part of the suspense in today\u2019s Gospel reading is this, \u201cWill the two disciples on the road recognize Jesus since it almost seems like he has a disguise?\u201d The text says \u201ctheir eyes were kept from recognizing him.\u201d Sounds like he\u2019s somehow disguised. Still, Jesus was walking with them in the whole story. I think many times we don\u2019t see Jesus walking with us either. Still, Jesus DOES walk with us every day, whether we recognize it or not. Would you pray with me? Thank you Jesus for walking with me every day. Thank you for listening to me when I am sad, and when I am happy. Amen)<\/p>\n Close. We use the word \u201cclose\u201d when we talk about proximity. Like when a car is close on our tail. Or, when we are traveling, someone might ask \u201cIs it far to get there?\u201d The answer might be, \u201cNo, we are close; almost there.\u201d Or again, someone might say, \u201cThe room was very crowded. We had to sit close to each other.\u201d That\u2019s all proximity.<\/p>\n However, sometimes we use the word \u201cclose\u201d when we talk about relationship. We might say that we have a \u201cclose friend.\u201d This is a good friend with whom we have spent a lot of time together, and shared a lot together. Often we might say, \u201cWe felt so close to each other.\u201d We usually say this after working together on a project, perhaps working tp build a portion of a home on a Habitat for Humanity project.<\/p>\n What if we called this message, \u201cClose to the Center\u201d? Think of a wagon wheel or a bicycle wheel for a moment. Out at the edge, the spokes are fairly far apart. But as you come closer to the center, you also get closer to the other spokes. Perhaps this could be an image for relationships, and not just about proximity. As we move closer to God in Christ, it is like we are moving closer to the center of the wheel. At the same time, we are getting closer to other spokes, to other people.<\/p>\n On Easter morning, two weeks ago, we heard about the women who went to the tomb (Matthew 28). They had felt the earthquake and heard the angel\u2019s message. Yet Jesus met them on the way. They were close to him as they held onto his feet and worshiped him. Then, last week we heard the story in John 20 about the evening of the Resurrection, as Jesus appeared to the disciples saying, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d You might recall that Thomas was not with them, and then the following Sunday (in that story last week), Thomas was there. He was close enough for Jesus to invite Thomas to touch the holes in the hands and the side of the body of Jesus. We could say that we touch the body of Jesus in hearing the Word, in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, in each other and when we serve people who are poor.<\/p>\n Today in Luke 24 we have the story of the walk to Emmaus on what we might call the afternoon of Easter. You might recall seeing one of several paintings of the scene with three people walking down a road, usually away from us as we view it. It usually is obvious that they are in a conversation. Do you like taking a walk\u2026alone\u2026or with a friend? A walk is often a good time to clear our heads, or put things together, or sort some things out. It often seems we think more clearly as we walk. I once read this:<\/p>\n Researchers are learning that as we walk our brains integrate information in ways specific to the act of walking. Our brains connect information we already have in ways that we might not otherwise. Some of us prepare sermons walking or work out difficult problems by walking.1<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n When people walk and talk together, they are in close proximity, and become \u201ccloser\u201d \u2013 a kind of bonding is happening. You might know that walking dogs is not just for exercise, but is also an important time for bonding, for connecting. This also is indeed true with people. I recall a couple earlier in my ministry who walked together almost daily, holding hands, even after 30 years of marriage. Early in the text and again later, Cleopas and the other disciple are walking and talking with Jesus; drawing closer, even if they did not recognize Jesus.<\/p>\n Then there is a significant moment, \u201cthey stood still, looking sad.\u201d They ask Jesus, \u201c\u201cAre you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?\u201d Then, they tell Jesus what happened to him \u2013 do you catch the irony of that? Then, they conclude with this, \u201cBut we had hoped that he was\u00a0the one to redeem Israel.\u201d This is a moment of honesty and of naming shattered dreams. Imagine a shattered window\u2026as shattered as their dreams.<\/p>\n I recall being in the living room of my parental home and in about 4th<\/sup> or 5th<\/sup> grade, waiting for the bus. My brother and I were pretending to play baseball. I had a large schoolbook in hand to swing as the batter. He pitched the imaginary ball. I swung my bat\u2026and the books went flying through a small living room window. It was shattered! No putting it together again. Just like Humpty Dumpty, no one could put the window together again. It called for a new window.<\/p>\n In the text, we are at a moment of shattered dreams, of hopes dashed to the ground, with no way to put them back together. But new hope was possible, like a new window. Jesus continued to walk with them, interpreting the scriptures about himself.<\/p>\n I recall preparing to preach for the third Sunday of Easter about 30 years ago. Yes, this was the Gospel text. However, I was not prepared for the way the text to connect to broken dreams I had at that time (I leave details out here out of respect for others, and later, \u201cnew hope\u201d was found after the broken dreams). Yet, in a moment, while I was preaching, I saw myself as one of the two on the road with Jesus. I saw myself as one standing still, looking sad and saying to Jesus, \u201cBut we had hoped.\u201d I said nothing about this during the sermon, but the connection was made. I knew I needed Jesus to offer a new dream, like a new window. I knew it was Jesus who could offer new hope for my life.<\/p>\n In the text, two disciples were close to God and close to each other in honest moments of shattered dreams and being open to new dreams and new hope. Walking along, that what Jesus gave them, even if they did not recognize him.<\/p>\n The last scene we highlight today is at the table. Jesus and the two others have arrived at Emmaus, and Jesus seemed to be going further. They say, \u201cStay with us, for it is toward evening and\u00a0the day is now far spent.\u201d So, Jesus stays. While at table, Jesus takes the bread, blesses, breaks it, and gives it to them. Then their eyes are opened and Jesus\u2026vanishes! Many of the other Easter stories are about \u201cappearances\u201d of Jesus \u2013<\/p>\n But, in this story, the surprise is not when Jesus appears; but when he vanishes. As Jesus walked with the two disciples in today\u2019s reading, he is a stranger, \u201ctheir eyes were kept from recognizing him.\u201d But at table, once Jesus gives them the bread, \u201ctheir eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And\u00a0he vanished from their sight.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese-American artist, Hi Qi has done a painting of this last scene. In it, two people are at table with Jesus, close to Jesus. Yet, the near side of the table is \u201copen.\u201d In this way, you and I might see ourselves at table with Jesus. In the breaking of bread, we might recognize the presence of Jesus.<\/p>\n You know, that people often grow close in sharing a meal, and not only in walking together. We are in proximity at table, but we also get closer, we are drawn closer in relationship. You know that it is true for some families that \u201cSunday dinner\u201d is a tradition. For some other families it is another meal. But, regular, dependable meals together is an important time for building relationships. In congregational life meals help members and friends grow closer together \u2013 whether \u201cfellowship time\u201d after weekly worship, or mid-week meals on an education night, or annual fundraisers, or Easter Breakfasts, or Harvest Dinners, or whatever! Being at table together is a time for conversation, for bonding and Jesus is present, just as he promises! The \u201cconversation\u201d is different, but this is also part of the dynamic of the meal we share in worship called Holy Communion. We are drawn closer to each other, and to the Center \u2013 to Jesus \u2013 at the same time. At table we have time for conversation and bonding, and Jesus promises to be present.<\/p>\n It is true \u2013 walking together draws us closer to each other. Today Jesus says, \u201cI promise to be with you as you walk together, even if you do not recognize me.\u201d<\/p>\n It is true \u2013 in times of shattered dreams we often share with one another. \u00a0Today Jesus says, \u201cI promise to draw you closer to each other and to God at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n It is true \u2013 shared meals draw us closer to each other. Today Jesus says, \u201cI promise to be at table with you, and draw you closer to each other and God at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n