Good Morning, as we clear our eyes and hearts for greeting the day!
Saturday morning: Luke 24: 13-16, 28-31
Now on that same day two of them 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.
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.
This scripture speaks to me of a Celtic understanding that when we gather or are in the presence of people whom we think are least likely to portray Christ to us, it is then that we will see him because he comes in the stranger’s guise. This is an important way of understanding Christ because we never know when we are going to meet him or be changed by him, and reminds us that there are many ways to recognize Jesus in our midst. As in Luke’s Gospel, the disciples did not expect to see him as they were walking the road that day. Scripture says that their eyes were kept from recognizing him…they didn’t until he broke bread in their midst. He was a stranger to them until he did something so familiar; they didn’t expect to see him and so he wasn’t revealed until that time. The Iona Community has written a hymn about meeting Christ in the Stranger’s Guise and so I share the Refrain (the tune is the Leaving of Liverpool):
So, come Lord Christ in the stranger’s guise,
Known both through scriptures and through broken bread.
Your kingdom come and on the earth your will be done
By the people you’ve loved and you’ve led.
So how can we recognize the Christ in our midst? What does it take for our eyes to be open?
I invite you to light a candle, saying the following words as you do:
Once there was someone who said and did such wonderful and amazing things that people began to follow him. They needed to know who he was so one day they asked him. And he said: “I am the light.” (Adapted from Godly Play)
Join me in prayer as those who seek the Christ in all whom we meet:
God of grace and love, reveal yourself to us now–in the words we share together, in the people we will meet during our day, in the light that has risen across the horizon, and most of all, in the light within our hearts. Inspire us to see you for who you really are and through that, opening our hands and hearts to love gently. Gather us in this day, O God. Gather us in. Amen.
Have a wonder-filled day!
