May 8, 2011 - Third Sunday of Easter

Do you see the very strange issue of distance in the gospel reading, today? The village of Emaus was a seven mile walk from Jerusalem, and it took the two unknown disciples and Jesus all day to make it--when they get to Emaus, it is just about supper time, so He eats with them. Then, after a lengthy meal, the two unknown disciples are able to make it back to Jerusalem before nightfall. How could that be? It's either an all day trip or it isn't. What is being taught?

 

I think we should see "nightfall" as a metaphor for death. The reading is saying that by the "nightfall" of our lives, God will have us where He wants us, in the safe company of all the disciples, with Peter as their head, in other words, "the Church." Where might we be in the meantime?

 

Ah, that's the question, isn't it?

 

Let's look more closely at the text. The journey to Emaus is SEVEN miles--seven is a symbolic number in the Bible that signifies "perfection" or "completion." The disciples are moving to a "PERFECT DISTANCE AWAY FROM JERUSALEM..." from the Church! Why? Well, they were disappointed by events. Jesus had been murdered, and they had hoped he would be the one to overcome the Romans. Now, crazy women are saying there was an empty tomb and a vision of angels.....it's just too much! These very sensible men who were one-time disciples, are now "getting out." They are quitting. It's getting too strange. Nothing makes sense.

 

Sometimes OUR lives are like that, too. We go along, being good disciples--we may even be a catechist or a minister, or a prayer group leader. We are involved, and we feel good about ourselves and God......and then...............things happen....terrible things--maybe a divorce or the death of a child, or a business fails, or a close relative comes down with a terrible disease and we have to help with care and expenses, and it gets to be TOO MUCH for us, and our faith weakens, and we want to walk AWAY....we may even go a "perfect distance" away....we may end up in the proverbial "pig sty" of the Prodigal Son!!!

 

But, none of that matters to God...for God doesn't give up on us! Jesus finds those disciples on their path, and by the "nightfall of their life", i.e., by the time they need to meet Him in eternity, He has them where He wants them.

 

So, this reading is truly GOOD NEWS! It tells us that God doesn't give up on us, that even when we've deserted and gone over to the other side, and lived horribly, God is patiently finding us, and leading us home. So, let's take a lesson from the Crucifix, today. For THAT is the meaning of the life and death of Christ. It tells us that God would rather "die," than "give us up," or "give up on us."

 

So, with the courage we draw from that faithfulness, let us try harder to make our lives blessings of goodness in our world. Let's try to find one of the "lost" ones, and bring them home. Maybe WE can be the hands and feet of the risen Christ, this week. And may God bless you all. +