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“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32
According to the latest issue of Biblical Archeology, at least nine possible locations are candidates for the Biblical town of Emmaus. Historians tell us that there is no record of any village called Emmaus in any other ancient source, so we simply don't know where Emmaus might have been.
Tradition tells us that Emmaus might have been just a few hours' walk from Jerusalem. New Testament scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan suggest that Emmaus is nowhere. Emmaus is nowhere precisely because Emmaus is everywhere. Each and every one of us has at one time, or indeed, for some of us, many times, traveled along the road to Emmaus.
How can that be? Think about your life and the lifetime relationship you have experienced as a follower of Jesus. Have you ever wandered away from the truth? Have you ever found yourself on a path that winds you away from the center of all things? Sometimes, our spiritual lethargy lets us meander purposelessly down a strange road. Other times, our fear leads us to put our heads down and walk the familiar road rather than accept the invitation for the "road less traveled." Perhaps, like those disciples, we are blinded by disappointment and grief, and we want to return to where we started and just forget the whole incident. These are some of the factors that contribute to finding ourselves walking on that road with Cleopas and his unnamed companion.
But even amid uncertainty, as this retelling reminds us, our Lord shows up. Our great responsibility is to listen, anticipate and watch for his appearing. Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear?
My great joy this week will be for us to gather in worship with praise, gratitude, and questions. Even as the questions rise from deep within and surface, our ancient scriptures and stories spring to life to provide guidance, counsel, and direction.
See you in church!
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