Presence

Painting by Mina RollerWe don't always realize we are in the presence of someone special.

Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. -  Luke 24:13-35

Last night at Bible Study, we talked about this reading from Luke's Gospel.  At the start of the story, the couple is sad.  They were disappointed that the one who was to redeem Israel was crucified.

But on their journey home, they were shown a different perspective on the events that had been preordained through scripture.  This thing that had happened was horrible, yes, but there is good that comes from it.

They were in the presence of Jesus and they didn't even know it, until he chose to reveal himself.

What if we look at the events of the past year through a similar lens?  Throughout the pandemic, have we been in the presence of Jesus and have not known it?

Look at what we have learned about ourselves.

A year ago, everything was shut down, and suddenly all the things that were important to us were put on hold, so we could focus on one thing, survival.

Now, a year later, we yearn for so much less than we wanted back then.  We just want to be able to hug those we love, spend time enjoying God's creation, being together.

Our focus has shifted from ourselves to those we know and love.

We have become what Jesus told us we always were, loving children of God, caring for our neighbors as ourselves.

Now, that doesn't mean the pandemic was God's wake up call.  I don't believe that for a moment.  But it was an opportunity for God to work in us and through us.

Every day is an opportunity for that, but we don't always allow God to be present in our lives.

Maybe now, we are learning to make that a priority.

More to come...