Luke 24:13-35

Easter 3 A | April 23. 2023 | Luke 24:13-35 | Luther H. Thoresen |

Note 1: All quotes in the sermon are from the English Standard Version.

Note 2: This initial portion of this might be used as the basis for a Children’s message. For clarity, I have put that portion in parentheses. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the “usual” sermon, or inserted at a later time in the sermon.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

(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 “disguise” that Superman uses so that he isn’t recognized by everyone when he wants to go unnoticed. OR, how about Adam West? In a similar way, Adam West is the “disguise” that Batman uses so that he can go unnoticed. Part of the suspense of the Superman movies or cartoons is, “Will the disguise work, or will people recognize Superman beneath the disguise?” Part pf the suspense of the Batman movies or cartoons is, “Will the disguise work, or will people recognize Batman beneath the disguise?” Well, part of the suspense in today’s Gospel reading is this, “Will the two disciples on the road recognize Jesus since it almost seems like he has a disguise?” The text says “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” Sounds like he’s somehow disguised. Still, Jesus was walking with them in the whole story. I think many times we don’t 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)

Close. We use the word “close” when we talk about proximity. Like when a car is close on our tail. Or, when we are traveling, someone might ask “Is it far to get there?” The answer might be, “No, we are close; almost there.” Or again, someone might say, “The room was very crowded. We had to sit close to each other.” That’s all proximity.

However, sometimes we use the word “close” when we talk about relationship. We might say that we have a “close friend.” This is a good friend with whom we have spent a lot of time together, and shared a lot together. Often we might say, “We felt so close to each other.” 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.

What if we called this message, “Close to the Center”? 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.

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’s 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, “Peace be with you.” 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.

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…alone…or 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:

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

When people walk and talk together, they are in close proximity, and become “closer” – 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.

Then there is a significant moment, “they stood still, looking sad.” They ask Jesus, ““Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” Then, they tell Jesus what happened to him – do you catch the irony of that? Then, they conclude with this, “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” This is a moment of honesty and of naming shattered dreams. Imagine a shattered window…as shattered as their dreams.

I recall being in the living room of my parental home and in about 4^th or 5^th 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…and 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.

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.

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, “new hope” 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, “But we had hoped.” 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.

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.

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, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” 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…vanishes! Many of the other Easter stories are about “appearances” of Jesus –

• on Easter morning the women are on the way back from the tomb and Jesus met them
• on Easter evening, the doors are locked, yet Jesus comes and stands among them
• a week later, the doors are shut, and again Jesus comes and stands among them

But, in this story, the surprise is not when Jesus appears; but when he vanishes. As Jesus walked with the two disciples in today’s reading, he is a stranger, “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” But at table, once Jesus gives them the bread, “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”

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 “open.” 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.

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 “Sunday dinner” 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 – whether “fellowship time” 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 “conversation” 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 – to Jesus – at the same time. At table we have time for conversation and bonding, and Jesus promises to be present.

It is true – walking together draws us closer to each other. Today Jesus says, “I promise to be with you as you walk together, even if you do not recognize me.”

It is true – in times of shattered dreams we often share with one another.  Today Jesus says, “I promise to draw you closer to each other and to God at the same time.”

It is true – shared meals draw us closer to each other. Today Jesus says, “I promise to be at table with you, and draw you closer to each other and God at the same time.”

Now, may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen

Pr. Luther H. Thoresen, ELCA, STS, retired           

thoresenluther54@gmail.com

¹ A Preacher’s Guide to Lectionary Sermon Series – Volume 1: Thematic Plans for Years A, B, and C © 2016, published by Westminster John Knox Press, Amy K Butler (Foreword); in the chapter for Easter 3 A.