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A sermon on
Luke 24: 13-36, Easter 3A
Easter Day, April 9, 2023
"Reading scripture with an Ecoligical Eye, part 4"
"Walking with Jesus on the Emmaus Road"
The Reverend DR. Dorothy A. Jeffery
From Northwood United Church
Today is the greatest day of Celebration in the Christian Church. Joyous music, familiar scripture stories of that glorious day almost two thousand years ago.
I have chosen the Emmaus Road story, Luke 24:13-35. When I discovered it, it became my favorite Easter story. It seemed new and fresh to me. Because it is placed in the evening of Easter Day, we rarely hear it. United Churches do not usually have Easter evening services.
It is an Easter text, but I did not know it is as such because of its placement in the lectionary, thor Sunday of easter. Two weeks have elapsed in our church calendar since the resurrection. But on a closer reading, prompted by a mentor of mine, I saw the timeline.
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called EMMAUS.
Looking back to the beginning of Luke 24 found the day was the day of resurrection, the first day of the week. There had been no intervening days in the story line.
So, in this twist of the church calendar, we are told that Easter is a season, a continuing event. This year continues for 6 more days, till May 21. An important part of the Easter message is the invasion. It is for us to determine. Acceptance may be in an instant or gradually over time. God and Christ do NOT coerce us.
I have been preaching in this 2023 four-sermon series about a different perspective for reading scripture, especially reading with an ecological eye. Today I wind up this series which began January 15.
I hope that you will emerge from this series always looking at the biblical message with an Ecological Eye, even though this may not be the primary message. I hope you will read with consideration of how biblical texts reveal God’s creativity and love for the earth. I hope we will discern our responsibility for creation, through knowledge and care.
Some have named the Climate Crisis at the #1 problem facing the world. By our attention to it we will find hope knowing that God and Jesus walk with us on this Journey too.
In previous visits to preach I introduced the idea of reading scripture with an ecological eye by the technique of bringing the background (the image and ideas of the earth) into the foreground, making the earth a character in the story. Later I expanded the possible steps in ecological reading by looking for images of earth, land, water, and sky; hearing the location and seeing action. I used specific biblical texts each month.
Earth-keeping is actually found in every corner of the bible. Reading scripture with an ecological eye feeds our abilities to envision living harmoniously with the rest of creation in all its forms.
It is “a general cognitive principle, that all theology is analogy”. This means God, the ultimate reality of the universe, can only be described by comparison to human experience. Knowledge of everything else, including puppies, guppies, and molecules is by analogy to humans. Similarly, knowledge of the earth is by analogy to our human experience.
The Emmaus story seems to me to be so real, interaction with the earth: walking, exploring emotions at the end of the day, and coming to new realizations of Jesus’ presence.
The Emmaus story is unique to Luke. As they walk, the disciples confidently rehash and discuss the events of jesus’ passion. Their direction away from Jersualaseum indicates they do not understand the meaning of Jesus’ passion which is a call to be with him. The two walkers are going the wrong way.
I wonder are we walking away from the earth’s passion and suffering now?
Jesus had many followers, i.e., disciples, many more than the 12. Two, one named Cleopas, the other unidentified, were walking, walking home - sad, discouraged, but still talking. I imagine that they had for three days in Jerusalem sat, and trembled holding within themselves their emotions, to the point of almost bursting.
Now they walk, and the very act of walking frees them, allows them to let out their feelings and to talk.
Do you find the same thing?
I know I do. My feelings are opened, my thoughts compacted in my brain are released and opened and flow clearly. This happens whether or not I have a visible companion, for I am never really alone when I walk.
I strive to make walking a regular activity…with friends who like to walk. Sometimes slowly with friends who really only want to talk.
For the two on the Emmaus Road by day's end, the two disciples were weary and wanted to be in the quiet safety of their own home.
They had rehashed the day in every detail, all they had experienced, speculation, wondering, believing, disbelieving. So much had happened, so many stories were flying around, it was hard to know what to believe.
Unrecognized the risen Jesus comes to them joining their walk and conversation. The risen Christ appears simply as a stranger. The disciples could hardly believe the stranger knew nothing of the events in Jerusalem.
When something is uppermost in your mind it is hard to believe that everyone does not know or is not thinking along the same lines.
They told the stranger about the distress of recent days. And Jesus listened. He really listened.
The compassion that Jesus offers is that he listened intently. Jesus focuses on those who approach him in need. When you reflect on the many healing stories that we have heard in the last weeks of Lent or in other parts of gospels you will notice that Jesus usually heals alone, with only the one in need.
Think of the Samaritan woman at the well, Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night unseen, the blind beggar healed by a dab of mud to his eyes. Jesus focuses his compassion on the one who comes to him in need. Jesus, having heard the walkers’ stories discerned their lack of knowledge, so he started to tell them all the things that had been predicted about the messiah through the scriptures.
Even though he is perceived as a stranger he opens the scripture to them. What scripture?Starting with Moses in the Torah, the most valued teachings, and including the prophets, and the psalms, he teaches. Even in a seven mile walk to Emmaus Jesus could not explain the whole Hebrew Bible. We know that Jesus honored and valued the prophets and taught from them often. But there were other prophets - false prophets who abounded then and now. Those who denied the suffering Messiah images, and expected a conquering military, Messiah. Many asked how could the Messiah suffer?
We do something analogous. We tend to expect all gain with no pain, all progress with no cost or consequence. Current analogies to the suffering of God’s creation “Climate change”deniers”.
Those looking for quick technological solutions with no lifestyle changes. Those continuing to waste resources for our convenience not for our real need. What would the world look like if we made serious attempts to reduce global warming and put fears aside as we step into a way of being in the world that we have never had to try before?
What would it look like if people asked, “how can I make a positive difference?” instead of “What’s in it for me?
”Even today where walking is a way to get from one place to another, it is an option often not taken. But I think, walking in a world that seems always to be in a hurry is not only good for the environment but is also good for the soul. Slowing down and thinking and seeing deeply the world around us.
Luke does not tell us what scriptures Jesus spoke of that day. We can only guess. Did he quote a harsh prophet (Hosea 9:9) (“He will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins”).
Or did he remind them of a gentle word from the same prophet (Hosea 11:4) “I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to feed them.”
Or Jeremiah 31:33 “I will remember their sins no more”.
Did he quote Moses “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in my sight.”?
Does he remind them of Job saying, “My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me. Surely there are mockers around me”?
Or does he affirm, with job, “O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book!...I know my Redeemer lives.” (Job 19:25).
A lot of opposing images of God - a God of punishment or a God of love.
Hearing these many prophecies in a flash of light their hearts were strangely warmed. They recognized the loving God met in Jesus.
When they got to the house, the stranger made a move to go on, but they invited him in. It was a good move on their part.
Their recognition of Jesus comes at the evening meal. When food was on the table, Jesus took the part of the host. In the moment he lifted the bread, gave thanks, and broke it the disciples knew it was Jesus.
He was risen from the dead.
After the meal, they turn and journey in the right direction, back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem where Jesus had told them to meet him in the days before the crucifixion. This return journey is a journey of joy and hope.
This story offers a transcendent hope, a hope that reaches across the centuries, reaching us even today. Climate change too, requires a source of transcendent hope.
What is your moment of recognition?
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they found the others. They added their story of the rising to the stories told by others - their story of Jesus breaking bread that first Easter Day. That is why we join in sharing the meal of Jesus later this day. They found a new purpose to proclaim that Christ is risen. To live with the Risen One in acts of charity and courage in the face of danger.
In the apparently ordinary things of life, walking, being in touch with reality, in touch with the earth, new hope and new realities happen.
We people, yes, all people, are called to walk into the future with purpose and hope.
May that hope rest within you.
AMEN