Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today’s Gospel lesson from Luke contains a lengthy post-resurrection story: the road to Emmaus. In this episode, Jesus finds the disciples struggling to understand what has happened.

Jesus, their teacher, was put to death in the most ignominious way imaginable. Nothing made sense anymore, undoubtedly. Everything these men and women had set their hopes on seemed to have dissolved before their eyes.

What strikes me about this story is the catastrophic nature of it.

The Church was brought to life in the context of utter turmoil and loss. The founders of this nascent community of Christ-followers had experienced a kind of complete renunciation of worldly concerns and hopes. In the midst of despair and confusion, Jesus appeared to them and spoke to their deepest longing, eventually giving them the Spirit to comfort them in the work ahead.

Another notable story element here is that the disciples did not recognize Jesus. They were holding together, talking about recent events, trying to make sense of things, and in the midst of this, they were able to offer hospitality to a stranger.

I wonder if we would recognize Jesus if we were to meet him today? It seems unlikely, given the contour of this story. However, we know that our fellow man (Adam) is made in the image and likeness of God, and as a result, Christ is to be found in each unique person. Such a reality shapes our praxis in the world.

Are we prepared to see Christ in each stranger we meet? Do we see him in family and colleagues, in beggars, in folks with lower (or higher) socio-economic status, in people with whom we disagree vehemently, in the worst of sinners, in ourselves? Christ died to save each one of these.

Yours in Christ,

—Justin