Easter 3 Yr A
On the road to Emmaus

a wonderful watercolor “unterwegs nach emmaus” [on the way to Emmaus] by Janet Brooks-Gerloff, in the Benedictine Abbey Kornelimünster, Aachen, Germany.

Published date 04/20/23

Introduction

One thing we learn from this week’s lesson is the absolute incredulity of God. Here are two folks walking home, feeling sad and dejected. Another person joins them, they have conversation. Then they invite the "other" person to join them for dinner. As the other person preps for dinner, the two suddenly (incredibly, eyes-wide-open finally) see that their companion is Jesus. And before they can even make a move, He disappears.

Oh how like us are the two travelers—so caught up in our own problems, so absorbed by the problems of today, so immersed in angst about this or that thing—that we simply cannot see Jesus among us! During our COVID19-winter, it was especially difficult to see Jesus. How about now? Where is Jesus? Look and you will see. Don’t let Him disappear from your sight! [Based on the sermon commentary at SOLI (Stewardship of Life Institute) website.]

Comments welcome.

Luke 24:13-35

. . . As they [two disciples] came near the village [Emmaus] to which they were going, he [companion] walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. . . .

From sermon4kids.com: “These men on the road had just been through a hard time. They knew Jesus had been crucified so He would not have been their first guess of who they were talking to on the road. Jesus had to open their eyes to see it was Him.”

Scripture: April 23, 2023—Acts 2:14a,36-41 (image); Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17 (image); 1 Peter 1:17-23 (image); and Luke 24:13-35 (image). Video presentation of scripture.

Collect: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reflection: The disciples on the road to Emmaus were with Jesus for hours as he taught them the meaning of the Scriptures. However, they finally recognized him as the risen Lord only in “the breaking of the bread.” How does the Lord’s Supper enable you to recognize Jesus?


excerpt from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press.

Eye Candy:
“The Road to Emmaus” by He Chi, an interesting (and expected) use of color;
“The supper at Emmaus” (1958) by Roy de Meistre, depicting the moment of recognition of disciples that visitor is Jesus;
“The supper at Emmaus” (1629) and "Supper at Emmaus " (1648) by Rembrandt van Rijn - two versions, 20 years apart, reflect on the distinctions

Ear Worm:
“And they drew nigh“, an etherial interpretation by Leo Sowerby (favored by director Teel, not so much SSSJ choir);
“Emmaus-bound on Easter Day” by Carolyn Gillette;
“On the way to Emmaus” by John Henderson, folk song presentation;
story video for kids

Brain Food: commentary by Richard Swanson, points to deep disappointment between disciples;
podcast from Pulpit Fiction website, "knowing Jesus and experiencing Jesus are two different things";
“Saying no to Mrs. Bidemeier” by Alice McKenzie from Patheos website, their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Parables: “Hook” (1991), wherein Panny is recognized by the lost boys; “Babbette’s Feast” (1987) by Thomas J Curry, "through the feast, Babbette comes to share in God's kingdom; “Signs” (2002), insights in how to interpret luck incidents, "are you the person who sees signs, sees miracles?"

Hymn Notes: "And they drew nigh" by Leo Sowerby (referenced above): "Leo Sowerby set a good bit of this story to music (using the words of the King James Version). And it is splendid. Sowerby unspools the threads of this story in his inimitable style. The revelation of Jesus identity is powerful. But just as powerful is the turn that Sowerby takes in the music to accompany Jesus' disappearance. It is a mystery in music. We are left with these very "James Bond" sounding chords at the end of this anthem that let us know that this isn't the last time we're going to encounter the resurrected Christ. He'll be back." 

Excerpted from blog.sinden.org

SOME EYE-CANDY:

BRAIN FOOD:

EAR WORMS:


For families: Study guide and activities (former  guide), group activity, snacks; kid video

For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft

For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft 

Coloring: Luke 24, Road to Emmaus

For youth: Jesus’ appearance to the disciples filled them with awe. But it took them a while to recognize him. Are we too often like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, caught up in our own lives and situations and not able to see Jesus Christ in action in our own lives and world?

Excerpted from So It Is website.


Each year on this Sunday, the Gospel reading reflects on one aspect of the Lord’s resurrection. Today’s reading is an account of the risen Christ sharing food with his friends. Today we hear about his breaking bread with two disciples who encountered him on their way to Emmaus. Jesus expounded the scriptures to them and at table took bread, said the blessing and broke the bread. It was at that moment that they recognized him.

The first reading continues Peter’s sermon on the first Pentecost day, which we began reading last Sunday. The result of the sermon was a large crowd turning to Jesus as Messiah and being baptized. The church’s way of living and sharing its life is then briefly described.

Today’s reading from 1 Peter continues the letter’s theme: baptism and its results in our lives. We are all new people in the risen Lord and now live in him.

Each Sunday is the resurrection day. For that reason, the church has always made the Eucharist the center of its Sunday worship. As the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, Jesus really did rise, and meets us here in the sharing of God’s Word and in the breaking of the bread. As he did on that evening, we take bread, say the blessing, break the bread, and meet the risen Christ.


From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2009 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.