Last Sunday I talked about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who encountered the resurrected Jesus on the evening of that first Easter. I mentioned how writer Frederick Buechner described Emmaus as representing that place we go in life just to get away from it all. There were some more thoughts of Buechner's I did not have time to share in worship, but I wanted to share them with you here:

I believe that although the two disciples did not recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Jesus recognized them, that he saw them as if they were the only two people in the world. And I believe that the reason why the resurrection is more than just an extraordinary event that took place some two thousand years ago and then was over and done with is that, even as I speak these words and you listen to them, he also sees each of us like that. In this dark world where you and I see so little because of our unrecognizing eyes, he, whose eye is on the sparrow, sees each one of us as the child in red. And I believe that because he sees us, not even in the darkness of death are we lost to him or lost to each other. I believe that whether we recognize him or not, or believe in him or not, or even know his name, again and again he comes and walks a little way with us along whatever road we're following. And I believe that through something that happens to us, or something we see, or somebody we know - who can ever guess how or when or where? -- he offers us, the way he did at Emmaus, the bread of life, offers us a new hope, a new vision of light that not even the dark world can overcome.

May the hope and light of the risen Christ overcome whatever darkness you face in life!

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, thank you for viewing us through your eyes of love as if we were the only person in the world. Thank you for recognizing us as one of your children even when we fail to recognize you. Thank you for the new hope and new vision of light you offer us. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.