Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Resurrected Lord: the Co-traveler

Luke 24:13-35
 
But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” 
           
The text today deals with the appearance of the Risen Christ to two men among the extended group of Jesus’ followers on their path to Emmaus. Post-Easter days are a time when Church walks together as these travelers, trying to discern the meaning of the events of resurrection alongside the monotony of our mundane experiences. We may ask ourselves: is there any persuasive reason to believe, that Jesus was really raised from the dead; or that God is present in the turbulences of our lives?

Evening is a time of retreat - a time of the day when we are tired and are rushing back to rest. The disciples are probably getting away from the terrible things they had witnessed in Jerusalem, from their disappointments, from the death threat against the followers of Jesus. They are probably going to escape from the frustrating realities of their life in connection with Jesus, whom they had trusted as they say in Vr 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They want to escape from their feeling of failure and ‘evening’ is a beautiful poetic image to describe all that they are feeling now. The Resurrected one who walks and stays with us through the evenings of our lives is a beautiful and encouraging concept. The risen Lord meets us in the evenings of our lives on our escape routes to Emmaus, in the ordinary paths and experiences of our lives and in the places to which we retreat when life seems to be too hard for us.

This risen Lord comes to us, walks with us and stays with us possibly in unfamiliar guises or even when we least expect him. Towards the end of our text we see them around the table for the evening meal. The Eucharistic language implies that the Church experiences the continuing presence of the risen Lord when it gathers at the Lord’s Table. It is a unique point where our spiritual eyes are opened to the mysterious presence of the risen savior with us even amidst the gloomy evenings of our life. When the darkness deepens around us let us ensure that we are at the warm and intimate table that the Lord sets for us.
 
Prayer
Abide with me fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens Lord with me abide, when other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless O abide with me. Amen

 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“If you want to walk fast, walk alone, but if you want to walk far, walk together.”


Rev Sujith Sam Mammen
Boston Carmel Mar Thoma Church 
       

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