Year A Easter WED 2023 Undercover Boss

 Year A Easter WEDNESDAY, 12 April 2023

St. James the Less Episcopal, Ashland, VA

“Undercover Boss”

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.

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he 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. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

You may have seen the TV show, “Undercover Boss.” This episode with the two followers on the Road to Emmaus could very well be called the first example of that particular show.

"What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" 

“…Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 

He asked them, "What things?”

They then proceed to fill in the “boss” with all the things that happened, and the Gospel about the Boss’s supposed resurrection, and the empty tomb.

I love that Jesus does not judge them, well not too much, besides this line… “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared.” But then he walks them through the Scriptures pointing out how here, and here, and here, and here, and here the Messiah was said to be the suffering servant that Jesus was. I would love to have a transcript of that if at all possible. Wow! What a Bible study that would be.

Thankfully Jesus meets us where we are, too, and meets us in the breaking of the bread as well. God, and Jesus, are not done with us yet.

The Road to Emmaus is such an apt metaphor for our spiritual walk. We come to it thinking that we know so much, but each and every day is new, and Jesus, even still, meets me where I am and brings me to where he wants me to be.

I think that is a big part of his instructions to take up my cross and follow him. I may think that I am in control and know what I am doing, but repeatedly I am Cleopas and the other follower, doing what I think is right, and then I find that Jesus is all up in my business and steering me to the right path no matter how oblivious I am. (Thanks be to God!)

Friends, know that on this side of heaven that you have further to go, more to learn, and more to let go of. If you have breath, God is not done with you yet, and who knows the learning that awaits us on the other side?

Have the faith to come like a child, adaptable, open to outcomes, willing to try and fail and get up and try again. It is adults who try something once and quit. Fatalism is a learned behavior. God help us!

As we are in the season of Easter, think about what in your life needs to die. Think on what needs to be Resurrected, to the honor and glory of God. We all have things, like the disciples walking away to Emmaus, that need to be dropped. And do not worry, Christ is there to get you back to where you need to be. Happy Easter! Blessings! Amen