Luke 24:13-21, 27-32 (CEB)
On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him.
He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast.
The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”
He said to them, “What things?”
They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago.
Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.
When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”
In the fall of 2014, all the questions that I had been wresting to came to a head.
It was the culmination of a conversation that I had at lunch with a dear friend of mine over 20 years ago.
For some reason, I began to share all the things that I no longer put stock into. Stories that many of us wrestle with --- creation, the Noah story, the virgin birth just to name a few.
And I will never forget --- Kathy --- who is still a great friend said something like: “If you don’t believe this stuff anymore why don’t you just quit.”
Ouch!
I have wrestled not only with parts of the Biblical story --- but with that comment ever since.
And in the fall of 2014 --- I finally decided I should take her advice --- so I took a secular job as the director of development for a non-profit agency.
It was the smartest --- and at the same time stupidest decision I ever made
Smartest because my salary was much higher than I ever earned as clergy
Stupidest because I knew it was not where I belonged
Every day at lunch I would find a quiet spot and I began reading the stories of fellow travelers who wrestled with God --- person who wrestled honestly and openly
Rachel Held Evans
Brian McClaren
John Dominic Crossan
Marcus Borg
Shelby Spong
And so many others provided inspiration and encouragement as they shared their stories
But it was a chance encounter one lunch with one of the accountants at the agency that was what really opened the door.
He said to me: “What are you doing here? You don’t belong here, you need to be in the church helping people grow with their questions.”
It was just a short time after that when I was appointed as your pastor.
God works in strange and mysterious ways.
Pastor Matt challenged me in ways that I had not experienced before.
He opened my eyes to Richard Rohr and Nadia Bolz Weber
Which in turn lead me to Pete Enns and Jared Bayas
The pandemic allowed me to offer my Thursday lunch group in which we spend thirty minutes wresting with our faith
Just an FYI and shameless plug --- we will be starting a new book on Thursday May 6th Nadia Bolz Weber’s book Shameless
Last weekend, Nancy and I along with four friends hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
They say it is only 7 ½ miles down the South Kaibab trail.
Almost 6 ½ hours later and closer to 8 ½ miles we arrived at Phantom Ranch
The next morning we began the task of climbing back out of the Canyon.
The joke is, hiking to the bottom is voluntary --- hiking out is mandatory
This time it was closer to 11 miles and 8 hours.
Those of you who have had children you remember the constant refrain from your kids on a road trip “Are we there yet?”
We too often asked that question --- and we learned a new reply
About 20 minutes to go
We don’t like being in limbo
We want answers to our questions --- NOW
But that isn’t how life seems to work.
Sometimes we have to wait
Sometimes we have to wrestle
We have to learn to listen
and do what the spiritual forebears have tried to teach us
LISTEN or another word contemplate
The chief point of wrestling for me is the question of God’s love
Is it really unconditional?
And are we really to love in that same fashion
For 35 years --- that has been my constant refrain
God’s love has no asterisk
And mine should not either
Unfortunately that is not how we always operate
We tend to box in God’s love and grace
But if you have ever studied the two volumes Luke & Acts it becomes very apparent that one of the central themes is that God’s grace is for EVERYONE
But it is also clear that God desires that grace to work through the community.
Our story this morning takes place right after the resurrection.
Jesus has been murdered by the state for a crime he did not commit
His followers have all gone into hiding --- many of them have fled back home to the Galilee
But two unknown disciples --- are walking about seven or so miles from Jerusalem.
The story says that they are headed toward the village called Emmaus
While they are walking they are wrestling over all that has taken place the last few days
The resurrection of Lazarus
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
The overturning of the tables of the sellers and money changers
The last supper
The vigil in the garden and the arrest of Jesus
The trial and execution of Jesus
And then --- the unexplainable --- the resurrection
They are talking about all these things when all of a sudden a stranger appears in their midst.
Can you imagine how frightening that might be?
Shortly after we adopted the statement of inclusion in March of 2019 I was visiting with someone and they asked me a question about the statement.
At that moment I had no idea what their opinion of the statement was
Were they wanting to affirm what we did
Or were they wanting to attack me for promoting it
That is a scary position to be in --- and that is just where these two followers find themselves.
Is this mysterious stranger a friend or a foe?
Would he betray them to the authorities?
They didn’t know
When the stranger asked them what they were talking about --- they decide to take a change and explain:
“The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago.”
You notice that they never mention the resurrection.
The stranger then begins to interpret all that had taken place
As they come to Emmaus, the two disciples are planning on stopping, but the stranger seems to be continuing on
They invite him to come and stay with them because the day was almost over
As they gather together around a table, Luke tells us
“(the stranger) took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. (The disciples) eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.”
If that story doesn’t fill you with questions --- I don’t know what will --- because I sure have a lot of questions about it
But what it does seem to teach us it that when we gather at the table --- amazing things can happen.
John Wesley saw this story and realized that when we gather for the Eucharist it can be a time of conversion --- as it was for these two disciples.
When we gather together at the table --- we are given spiritual food for the journey
What I have come to learn and believe is that when we are searching for answers
When we are wrestling with the questions
Jesus not only strengthens us --- but joins us on the journey
Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you have all the answers
--- I have yet to meet a Christian who does have all the answers
What it does mean is that you are willing to be in relationship with God and God’s children
God is calling us to be open to the spirit
To LISTEN
To Keep our EYES OPEN
But maybe most important --- to never stop asking the questions
And to never stifle those who do as questions
Instead we are to join them as they wrestle with God
Over these next several weeks, I invite you to find someone --- a friend, a workmate, someone that you will commit to pray about and intentionally seek to walk alongside them as we journey together toward our own Emmaus
What does one do when they have to wait --- when they don’t have all the answers?
The listen and ask
Give us courage Never to stop wrestling with God as we journey together
Keeping you, Lord, at the center of all
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