"Traveling Companion" - Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter

Traveling Companion
Easter 3A
April 26, 2020
Grace, Waseca, MN
Luke 24.13-35

[Jesus] was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Obviously, food is important for our survival, but I think eating meals together is just as critical. As humans became social animals years ago, I’m sure eating together was important to that development. I can’t think of an important event that doesn’t involve food and eating together: birthdays, weddings, and funerals are just a few. Like many families, my family had traditions regarding food and eating. One of our values growing up was that all of us were expected to be at the dinner table every night. If we weren’t there, it had better be a good excuse, and there weren’t many of those. Cindy and I shared that value with our girls among others: birthday dinners are celebrated at a restaurant of the birthday person’s choice; we have set meals for all of the major holidays; and when we see movies together, we schedule them so we can debrief over dinner. (We even have a rule that the debriefing can’t start until we are seated and have our beverages.)

We have this figured out in the church as well. I think that the coffee hour may be just as important as worship and we do love our potluck dinners. It shouldn’t surprise you then that we can see the importance of meals for community by all the fights over them. For example, in the book of Acts there was a disruption because some widows were being shorted in the allotment of food. The Apostle Paul has to answer a question about if you could eat food sacrificed to idols. And Paul chastised some in the Corinthian church for gluttony. It seems the wealthy, who didn’t have to work, arrived early at the love feast, eating all the food, and leaving nothing for the poorer people who were working. The fights continued. During the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, the fight was about Jesus’ presence in Communion: was he really present or was it spiritual? These days, we still argue about who can take Holy Communion, how old they have to be, and how much understanding they need.

In some ways, we come by it honestly because Jesus was controversial about food. He ate with tax collectors and sinners, considered the lowliest of the low while also eating with the religious leaders who wanted to kill him. His disciples were chastised for picking grain on the sabbath and later admonished for not washing their hands before they ate. Jesus astonished people by feeding the multitudes with a few loaves and fish, but then disgusted many of them as he declares himself to be the Bread of Life. Finally, he says some startling things at the Last Supper as he claims the bread to be his body and the wine to be his blood.

So, it should be no shock that many post-resurrection appearances involve food as well, none more notable than the Road to Emmaus text. It’s still that first Easter and unbeknownst to them, Jesus comes and walks alongside two of his followers. (By the way, did you know there are some who believe the two were husband and wife? I’ve discovered a website that depicts this belief in art. You can click on it here.) After Jesus questions them about their discussion, the followers respond with a recitation of the events of the past few days, including the three most despairing words in any language: “…we had hoped…”

Jesus, with a verbal reproof, opens the scriptures to them. When they reach Emmaus, Jesus pretends to go further, clearly fishing for a dinner invitation, which is granted. He then agrees to stay with them. But in a surprising turnabout, Jesus acts as host of the meal, not Cleopas. And the meal looks a lot like Holy Communion. It has what is known as the four-fold shape: Bring, Bless, Break, and Share. In the breaking of the bread, their eyes are opened and they recognize Jesus who immediately vanishes. Yet they are able to look back on their encounter with Jesus on the road and realize that he had truly been with them.

This text is bittersweet for us today because it sets in stark relief all of our hopes and expectations. We had hoped to be back worshiping, taking Holy Communion, and having Easter breakfast together. We had hoped to be attending grad parties, prom dinners, going to movies and eating out. We had even hoped to be saying goodbye to our loved ones and sharing memories over a meal. Fortunately for us, Jesus comes and walks along beside us in our despair, meeting us in our deepest needs.

Jesus is our traveling companion. That’s doubly meaningful since companion means “share bread.” In other words, companions are the ones with whom we share bread. There’s so much good news here. Jesus meets us where we are, opens himself up, and gives himself to us. It is good news that we don’t need to fully see Jesus in these moments and aren’t required to understand it when we do. As a way to help make this notion real for you today, I invite you to take some bread, break it, and remember where you’ve seen Jesus show up in your life. And if you are able, share that experience with someone else. My sisters and brothers in Christ, I see Jesus in each and everyone of you, in your faithfulness and in your love for others. Know that Jesus is your traveling companion. Amen.

For the video version of the sermon click here.