Year B Easter WED 2024 In the Breaking

Year B Easter Week WEDNESDAY, 3 April 2024

St. James the Less Episcopal, Ashland, VA

“In the Breaking”

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.

I do not have a lot today. It is just that most of you all have heard me preach on this more than once. You can go in so many directions with this story, but we will limit it to this.

First: Most of us would have been clueless, too. His closest intimates did not know who he was. These two on the Road to Emmaus. Mary Magdalene at the Garden. How on earth would we think that our eyes would be any clearer, or that we would see what so many who knew him better could or did not?

So we are oblivious that the Lord is here.

Second: Once they see him break the bread, then, THEN they could perceive that it was Jesus. Not before. I find this illuminating as well. If there was something unique and new about this daily ritual, breaking the bread, they would have made the connection. Or if not new, then something uniquely personal to how Jesus did this must have come out. 

Either way, they knew it was Jesus through this act.

For me it is often the opposite. When I see the Christ, it is often after the Eucharist. Not so much during as I am very focused on the liturgy and performing the Rite. I am a little honed in to notice much, even Jesus. When I bless the Church post-communion, however, that is one of if not the highlight of my week. Together we are the Body of Christ, and that feeling is palpable for me.

This last weekend, as we finished the 10 am service, I said to a couple of people, “THAT was CHURCH!” It had it all, didn’t it? And even more, people were happy and joyous. We were a family, the Body of Christ, for one brief shining moment.

I am sacramental  in my understanding on how we relate to God, a big shift in my lifetime, so of course this is where my mind goes when I think of Jesus.

Third: One last note, in the last few years we have made quite the production of sanitizing our hands before serving the Eucharist. In an age of pandemic, that will be the norm. But Jesus’ wounded hands actually “sanitize” as it were by whose hands they are. Jesus’ hands are pierced for our transgressions. And with the same he welcomes us home.

What a gift and wonder. The most precious thing ever created, given for us and to us. If that does not wake us up from our obliviousness, nothing else will. Amen