Lk 24:13-36 (cont.)
Well, my retreat site seems to be out of commission. Fortunately I know that I have a few days to soak in this passage before I need to move on.
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. - (15)
I know I've covered this verse already, but there are important aspects of this that were not addressed in those first cursory thoughts. For instance, Jesus always meets us where we are; in the midst of whatever it is we are doing, Jesus is there. It was true for tax collectors and shamed women, for fishermen and even Pharisees willing to be open to him. It is true for us, as well: in our busyness, our brokenness, our labor, our leisure, Jesus meets us there.
He draws near, and goes with us. He is not a distant God watching us, as the song said, From a Distance. He is in the trenches or the highway with us, walking close by us. We do not have to call for help to someone who is far off; we can whisper, "Jesus, help me," in the ear of our most intimate companion along the way - more intimate even than a beloved spouse of decades of life together.
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. - (16)
I've always assumed that it was Jesus himself who obscured their vision of him, but perhaps it was the very thing that interferes with our recognition that he is with us: we aren't looking for him, any more than they were.
And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad . . . . And they said to him, . . . "Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even 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 him they did not see." - (17-24)
They didn't have to add: we didn't really believe them in the first place, and the emptiness of the tomb did nothing to assuage our unbelief. We're pretty hopeless.
I suppose I always missed the part about how they stopped walking when he asked them what they were discussing. But there doesn't seem to be any debate between them about whether they should talk with him about what had happened; to the contrary, they figured that everyone who was in Jerusalem must know about it.
Some of those who were with us seems to contrast against Simon Peter who alone is mention in verse 12 (omitted from umich site).
What we know is that they had heard news of the resurrection, but were still sad, so clearly didn't really believe it. They had confirmation that something had taken place, for the tomb was empty. They seem to be disappointed that Jesus himself had not appeared to anyone.
I grow disappointed, sometimes, that Jesus has not transformed my life and my marriage into more than what they are. Perhaps it is because, like these unnamed disciples, I am looking for the wrong signs and journeying along a road that will not take me where I should be going. But I believe Jesus meets us along the way anyway, and corrects our path.
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