“Kept From Seeing” Sermon on May 8, 2011
May 8, 2011
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
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. 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.
Sermon: Kept From Seeing
By: Rev. Doreen Oughton
Our story opens today with two disciples leaving Jerusalem. Cleopas, at least, was not one of the original twelve, and we don’t know about the other. But the group following Jesus had grown well past those twelve apostles, had grown leaps and bounds. So many had been inspired by his healing miracles and his teachings. They were touched by his message that God loved them, was concerned for them, and they had come to believe that this man Jesus had indeed been sent by God not only to save their souls for eternity, but that the kindom of heaven might break in right there and then, between, among and within them. They remained hopeful even after the arrest, confident that God would see to it that he was released, or that someone would break him free. Even when he was condemned they wondered if this was just a chance for him to show his power over death. Maybe he would hang there but live, so that eventually the Romans would have to give in to this force of life and take him down. Maybe then the fools would finally see who he was. But it didn’t happen that way. He died. He really died.
As the scattered followers of Jesus found one another, confirming that it was true, he had died and his body lay in a tomb, some still, perhaps, stayed hopeful. “Remember,” they said, “How he predicted he would die, but said he would rise up again on the third day.” But now here it was, well into the third day, and there was no sign of Jesus. There was the story from the women about two angels who told them Jesus was risen, but, you know, it was the women. Sure Peter confirmed that the tomb was empty, but he didn’t see any angels, and no one had seen Jesus. If Jesus had risen, why hadn’t he come back to his friends? No, it seemed that this was it. Jesus was gone, along with all their hopes for the new life he had promised. Might as well get back to the old life. Might as well get back to all the things they’d left behind, back to the daily grind. Cleopas and friend were going the same way, so travelled together and talked about all the things that had happened, and then were joined by this man who seemed in some ways a stranger, but in some way ever so familiar.
It’s so fascinating to me what it says in the scripture, that they were “kept from recognizing him,” according to the translation used in our skit. Other translations are that “their eyes were kept from recognizing him” or “their eyes were held so that they did not recognize him,” or “God kept them from recognizing him.” One way or another, it is something happening to the followers, not done by them or within them. It wasn’t about their being daft or stubborn or making a bad choice. They were kept from seeing what was before them.
I wonder why that was? I wonder who or what held their eyes? Back when I was an addictions counselor, I used to teach about denial, how it was an unconscious mechanism that kept people from seeing the truth about their substance abuse. Their eyes were held, so to speak, by their own minds that sought to protect them from a threatening and overwhelming reality. I don’t think that is the case here, though. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection wouldn’t be threatening to his followers, would it? It had been their heart’s desire and fervent hope.
It seems more like a story building device – to build suspense and tension, to heighten the joy when the truth is finally seen. Think of someone who wakes up on their birthday, excited, waiting for all the ways they will be made to feel special today. But instead its the same old same old. No special greeting or breakfast, they’re the last one in the shower, they’re rushed and hassled as always. No one seems to remember, and everyone else in the family has some activity or other later in the day so there’s not even a special dinner being served. Of course everyone knows what day it is. They are all pretending otherwise so that when the birthday boy or girl walks in to their surprise party, the impact is even greater – they are even more overwhelmed with the love coming their way.
I think there is a message here for us that we will often be surprised by the way Jesus comes to us. Sometimes he will come when we are seeking him – through prayer, meditation, reading the bible. But there may be times when right in the middle of a routine interaction, in telling a story, in hearing one, we will catch a glimpse of Christ right there in our midst. Maybe some Sundays we hear the words of the Communion ritual and we receive the bread and we appreciate the symbolism. But some Sundays the words live in us. The bread breaks, the cup is raised and we feel Christ as near as our very breath, see him extending a hand, reaching out with his whole being to you. We might be listening to someone, a teacher, a boss, a co-worker, an underling, and they say something that opens our mind in a whole new way, and we wonder if that’s Jesus we see in her eyes, Jesus we hear in his words. Maybe our hope was returned to us in a way we couldn’t have imagined, but the impact was even greater for having thought we lost it.
Now I am not talking about the silver lining, the thing that makes a bad situation more bearable. Though I think God does find a way to grace us even through bad situations, that’s not what is going on here. This story challenges the idea that promises won’t be fulfilled, that dreams and hopes are as fragile and fleeting as a wisp of smoke. This is God’s answer to those fears and beliefs. This is God’s assertion that God is trustworthy, does love us, does endlessly seek us out. This is God telling Cleopas and all the disciples, all those who put their trust in Jesus, that divine love is indeed the very ground of our being. And it is solid ground. God’s love will always win out, it will always rise again. Even if our eyes are kept from seeing it for a time, it will always appear, and it’s impact may just be strong enough to turn our lives around, as the disciples turned around from Emmaus and back to Jerusalem.
I came across a lovely story by Rev. Janice Scott that imagines a conversation between God and Jesus that takes place after Jesus’ death, but before any resurrection appearances. The scene opens with Jesus lying in the arms of God, exhausted, battered emotionally and physically. Jesus hadn’t realized his mission would be quite so tough. Of course, when the Three in One had discussed it eons ago, he’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but he had never expected this.
He had volunteered to go to live among the people as one of them to demonstrate God’s love for human beings. It seemed that some human beings had drifted away from God and some were actively hostile towards God, but the Divine hope was that if someone could show them God’s love in person, then they would return that love and return their trust to God.
The plan had seemed so simple. Jesus would be born as a human being and live a human life, but would keep close to the Creator and show through his own life just how much every human being was cherished. Of course, he had expected some opposition, but this! As he lay in God’s embrace, still reeling from the shock of what had been done to him, he was so glad to be home. He began to feel the healing warmth of holy love as it poured into him and over him.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, when he could speak again. “I thought I could pull it off, but I failed.” God smiled. “You haven’t failed,” God said gently. “You did all that I asked of you. You went on loving them even when they crucified you. I don’t ask any more than that.” “But it didn’t work! How can they know our love for them when they’re so afraid of it, so defended with their violence and vengeance and their judgment towards each other?”
“They need just a little more time,” God responded. “They’re coming round, but they are shocked and in despair at the moment. They think it’s all over. I need you to go back and prove to them that what they call ‘death’ is but the transition into a new kind of life in a different dimension, and that we’ll go on loving them whatever they do. We can’t help but love them. It is who and what we are. Do you think you can do that?”
The son nodded. “But how will they see me? Their world isn’t in touch with this dimension.” “I don’t want you to go back full time,” explained God. “This is a part time job. You’ll continue to live here with me, but once you’ve fully healed from what happened, you will visit them from time to time for a few weeks. Until they really come to believe that you’re still alive.”
Jesus mused, “I’ll have to make some careful decisions about who to visit. And how will they recognize me? I know how healing and transforming it is to rest here with you. After such time with you, I know I won’t look the same.” God laughed, and the sound rocked Heaven. The angels smiled at each other, relieved that God’s son was healing so well, and the cherubs danced and played in delight.
“Those who know you and love you will recognize you,” God declared. “Maybe not immediately, but they will know you eventually. And that will be so for ever and ever, because of what you have achieved in that dimension, through all the healing you brought, all your teachings, through your sacrifice, through your love, our love. Where will you start?”
“Well,” said God’s son, “there were these women…”
God’s eyes twinkled. “Perhaps that’s where you should start, then.”
So friends, remember that when you have run out of hope, when it seems your dreams have been dashed, when you start to think that you can’t trust anyone’s promise, perhaps you have been kept from seeing something that is right there. Perhaps your eyes are being held so that Christ can appear when you least expect it, ready to jump out and say, “Surprise! You are loved, and you always will be.” May it be so.
