Receiving Jesus' Bread of Hope

That evening, the two on the road said,“Stay with us"

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."

(from Luke 24:13-35)

What do you think is Jesus' most distinguishing activity?

The Crucifixion? Preaching to a crowd? Healing the sick?  Glorified at God's right hand?

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus' most distinguishing activity is being at table with an ordinary meal and ordinary people. 

Jesus also dined at table with sinners, tax collectors, and powerful people.

Jesus' sharing and blessing bread with all sorts of people, is a radical act

breaking down socially accepted boundaries.

That's exactly what's happening on the Emmaus Road.

Cleopas and another person were reviewing and debating the facts of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Jesus joins them, unrecognized, yet they strongly insist he dine with them.

That's when Jesus does what Jesus does; he overturns the status quo.

Jesus becomes the host instead of being the guest by taking blessing and giving the bread.

For Cleopas and the other person, recognition occurs because Jesus did what Jesus does: taking, blessing, and giving them bread.

Recognizing Jesus takes place gathering at the Lord's table, hearing Jesus words, and watching the bread broken then given to us.

Reaching out and receiving the Lord's blessed bread is encouraging a new confidence and new hope. 

The Emmaus Road story, by God's grace, undergirds our hope as Jesus walks with us on whatever road we may be travelling.

The road I travel is one calling for awareness and resolution to complex social and political issues and caring about the people suffering consequences.

I am disillusioned at the apparent neglect or delay of the outcomes I care most about.

Like Cleopas and the other disciple, the consequence is not what I expect.

It's at times like these that bread blessed, broken, and given reminds me that Jesus walks with us providing hope.

At Holy Communion, Jesus walks with us, encouraging us, feeds us hope on the road we travel. 

Think about it: When has God revealed something to you that changed your behavior, thinking, or faith?