Focus Scripture: Luke 24:30-31 (NLT)
As they sat down to eat,[Jesus] took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.
Today’s reflection addresses faulty memories to a certain extent. Shortly after Jesus’ crucifixion, two witnesses were traveling to a village called Emmaus. Perhaps they had witnessed the event firsthand, or maybe they had received their information secondhand. The scripture is not clear on this point. But it is clear that Jesus filled in the gaps for the travelers that day, and they were left with a strong desire to go out and tell somebody what they had discerned!
I imagine that as the two witnesses walked and talked, they tried to piece together the mind-boggling details of the recent life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I imagine that just as the two witnesses were at the height of their perplexity, a stranger approached and walked with them. Now this stranger was Jesus, but the witnesses didn’t recognize him.
Although their eyes saw Jesus, their spirits did not yet know him. Jesus was just another stranger to them, for they did not yet grasp the significance of his presence. As they continued walking, Jesus asked what they were discussing. The witnesses were amazed that this stranger was unaware of the extraordinary events that had occurred only days earlier. They told Jesus their version of the story, as they understood it then. But their version only scratched the surface, even as it tried to fill in the gaps with the sketchy information they had.
On the road to Emmaus that day, Jesus may have played a role similar to Paul Harvey. The witnesses had part of the information, but certainly not all of it. Jesus helped them reorganize their data and look at the available information in a different light. In fact, Jesus gave the witnesses a whole new dimension to consider. Jesus told them the “Rest of the Story.” I can imagine Jesus saying: “Here’s the big picture and here’s the evidence I have to back it up. But there are some other things you will just have to take on faith. It will all be revealed in time. Be patient.” Oh, what a grand conversation that must have been!
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for sending me the Holy Spirit to help me fill in the gaps. Help me to have discernment in the face of uncertainty. Amen.
From Reflective Renewal: Grace at the Crossroads
