On a road to nowhere

It’s Easter Day – well, it is in our story today. You’d have thought we would have moved on a week or so. Last week, we were recapping how the men were locked away, either afraid to be seen or possibly in mourning. They might have felt that, on their journey, they had been duped, mislead. This Jesus, the Messiah, was there to over throw the current rulers, bring back some normalcy to the scene – and then he gets killed. Soon after, there’s tales of him returning but even those are beyond belief. They are on a road to nowhere.

Change of time and place

So we are back to Easter Sunday, the day after the Sabbath. We are on a short track between Jerusalem and Emmaus. Not too sure where this Emmaus place is, as scholars still debate it but I wonder how busy it might have been, with other travellers post the Passover? Would the masses be leaving the Holy city and returning home now via a myriad of routes?

Our focus is drawn to 2 people: one named Cleopas, the other unnamed – could it have been his wife, Mary? They are deep in conversation, struck by the tragedy of the past week. The Messiah was crucified…

This chap draws closer, unseen by the pair, and starts a conversation with “What are you talking about?

Horror is written all over their face. “Are you the only person in the whole world who hasn’t heard of what happened? responds Cleopas. And the chap looks inquisitively and says “What things?

Do you think that, if this chap is Jesus, he would have known? Was he being intentionally obtuse?

The Story

Cleopas invites the man to sit down whilst he tells the story – it goes on and on. What might have been the story we would have told? What aspects would we have included or excluded?

The rhythm of the story telling is broken when Jesus says “You idiots” – how rude!

Possibly it is like those times when Jesus says “Woman” : a customary greeting rather than a derogatory phrase. Luke 24:25 uses the word ‘foolish’ or thoughtless, suggesting taking something on face value without really exploring it.

Eating

The three, now deeply entwined in their discussions, encourage one another to stay for longer and have a blether over something to eat. Eating and talking are part of our human psyche. We love to meet up for a coffee or over a meal. That opportunity to sit together, see literally eye-to-eye, can be so cathartic to our mind, body and soul.

Just ponder what it might be like to meet with someone you’ve not seen for some time, and then offer to have a cuppa with them. Then share that digestive or Rich Tea (alternatives might also be available) biscuit, and …as you break it into two…we recall that moment when Jesu broke the bread and they knew.

Sitting at the table with someone might be an occasion which happens only once with that person or yourself that day. Perhaps our physical destination is unimportant at that moment. Our road may be going to nowhere, but in that instance, we are in communion with others and God. Why not take that opportunity to share the news, to allow others to see how our heart beats – and we both leave transformed.