Easter: The Walk To Emmaus

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. Luke 24:13-35 NRSVUE Isang mapayapang araw sa inyong lahat. For today and the next dalawang Linggo, iisang Scripture reading lamang ang ating tatalakayin, ngunit hahatiin natin ang preaching sa tatlong bahagi. For this Sunday, I’d like to talk about being present. Sa ating buhay, madalas tayong nagiging masyadong pokus sa pagtapos ng mga gawain (tasks). Masyado tayong nagmamadali na nakakalimutan na nating maramdaman o ma-appreciate ang proseso—ang “smelling the roses” at ang tunay na pag-enjoy sa journey. Nang una kong mabasa ang tekstong ito mula sa Ebanghelyo ni Lucas (The Road to Emmaus), naisip ko: “Parang ang lakas mang-power trip ni Jesus?” Dahil sa isang kisap-mata, pinigilan niyang makilala siya ng mga alagad, at sa isang kisap-mata rin ay ipinakilala niya ang kanyang sarili. Pero kalaunan, na-realize ko na si Jesus ay kasama na nila sa buong biyahe. Hindi niya ito ginawa para paglaruan sila; sadyang ang dalawang alagad ay masyadong nakapokus sa ibang bagay. Marahil sila ay puno ng kalituhan at emosyon dahil sa balita ng muling pagkabuhay. Unveiling the Characters: Who Was on the Road? Habang binabasa ang kuwento, may mga tanong na lumitaw sa isip ko: Bakit sila papuntang Emmaus? Taga-doon ba sila? At isa pang mahalagang tanong: Sino ang kasama ni Cleopas? Sa kuwento, si Cleopas lamang ang pinangalanan. Sabi ng ilang scholars, maaaring si Simon Peter ito, pero marami ang naniniwala na ang kasama niya ay si Mary of Cleopas—ang kanyang asawa. Ayon sa tradisyon ng Simbahan, si Cleopas ay kapatid ni Jose (na asawa ni Maria, ang ina ni Jesus). Ibig sabihin, sila ay magbilas. Bago natin sagutin ang ibang tanong, nais kong bigyang-diin ang presensya ng mga kababaihan sa buhay at ministeryo ni Jesus. Mula simula hanggang sa krus, at maging sa muling pagkabuhay, laging nandoon ang mga babae. Sila ang may lakas ng loob at pananampalataya na hindi iniwan si Jesus. Minsan, ang pangalawang disipulo ay sadyang hindi pinangalanan sa Bibliya upang makita natin ang ating mga sarili sa kuwento. Tayo ang kasama ni Cleopas sa paglalakad. The Retreat from Hope Bakit nga ba sila papuntang Emmaus? Walang record na taga-doon sila. Maaaring ito ay nagsilbing temporary refuge o “halfway house” para sa kanila. Alam natin ang nangyari: Marami ang umasa na si Jesus ang magpapalaya sa kanila mula sa Imperyong Romano. Nang siya ay mamatay, tila namatay din ang kanilang mga pangarap. Ang pag-alis nila sa Jerusalem patungong Emmaus ay simbolo ng kanilang pag-atras mula sa pag-asa at komunidad. Ngunit narito ang maganda: Ang pagpapakita ni Jesus sa kalsada ay patunay na ang “Divine Presence” ay sumasalamin sa atin kahit sa mga sandaling tayo ay tumatalikod na sa pag-asa. Si Jesus ang nag-adjust para sa kanila. Nakipagtagpo siya sa kanila kung nasaan man sila. Ipinahayag niya ang kanyang sarili sa pamamagitan ng Kasulatan at sa pagpipiraso ng tinapay (Breaking of the Bread). At nang muling mag-alab ang pag-asa sa kanilang puso, bumalik agad sila sa Jerusalem nang gabing iyon upang magbahagi ng mabuting balita. Vulnerability as Strength Sa ating sariling buhay, madalas tayong nahihirapang lumapit sa Diyos kapag tayo ay nasa gitna ng pagsubok. Kadalasan, lumalapit lang tayo para magpasalamat kapag “tapos na” ang problema. Minsan naman, lumalapit lang tayo kapag nasa breaking point na tayo. Hindi ba natin naiisip na sa gitna ng ating mabigat na problema, malumanay na tumatawag si Jesus: “Hello, I am here. You can be vulnerable with me.” Your vulnerability is as beautiful as your strength. Madalas din nating mahalin ang ating “privacy” hanggang sa punto na hindi na tayo nakakapag-open up sa mga kaibigan o mahal sa buhay. Sinasabi lang natin ang kuwento kapag “overcome” na natin ang challenge. Paano naman yung mga struggle na kasalukuyan nating nilalabanan? Nasaan ang diwa ng komunidad? Bilang inyong pastor, nais kong malaman ninyo na maaari kayong maging vulnerable sa akin. Maaaring hindi ko masolusyunan ang lahat ng inyong problema, lalo na kung pinansyal, pero nangangako akong sasamahan ko kayo sa inyong paglalakbay. We are here to journey with you in your “Emmaus moments.” Learning to Pause Sa gitna ng trabaho at buhay, marami tayong bitbit na “baggages”: job security, inflation, midlife crisis, and the search for purpose. Para silang mabibigat na bag na isa-isang pinapasan hanggang sa tayo ay “ma-freeze” o ma-paralyze sa bigat. Minsan, kailangan nating tumigil at mag-assess: Bakit ito mabigat? 2. Alin sa mga ito ang pwede ko nang bitawan? 3. Alin dito ang pwede kong ipagkatiwala sa iba? Huwag nating kalimutang tumingin sa paligid. May mga taong handang tumulong sa pagpasan ng ating dalahin. Matutong huminga, tumigil, at pahalagahan ang mga kasama sa journey. Conclusion: Today is a Gift Bilang isang “frustrated wanderlust,” aminado akong hindi ako magaling sa direksyon o Maps. Umaasa lang ako sa mga landmarks. Sa paggamit ng mapa, mahalagang malaman mo muna kung nasaan ka (orienting yourself) bago mo malaman kung saan ka pupunta. Gayundin sa ating spiritual journey: Minsan kailangan nating mag-reflect kung nasaan na tayo. Gamitin natin si Jesus bilang ating compass at ang ating komunidad bilang sacred space para sa paghilom. Tandaan natin: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the PRESENT. Pahalagahan natin ang kasalukuyan at magtiwala na ang Kristong nabuhay ay kasama natin sa bawat hakbang ng ating paglalakbay. The post Easter: The Walk To Emmaus appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.