Two Invitations

This week we have a charming Gospel. It is the story of the two disciples traveling to Emmaus. Jesus has died and been buried, and his body is missing. The hope that Jesus would redeem Israel has been dashed. And the Disciples are hiding in fear for their lives in Jerusalem.  

These two disciples are walking away, trying to get some distance from Jerusalem. They are discouraged and confused. It is only 7 miles, so probably no more than a 2-hour walk.

They may have been traveling home because Jesus was gone, and they were looking for meaning. Perhaps they were getting away from danger. It doesn’t really matter because we know what is most important. They were together, and they were discouraged. All that they had hoped for seemed lost. They were friends trying to figure it out together as they walked. 

Jesus asks to join them on their journey. He is just another traveler. Jesus reaches out first. He asked them to allow him to share their journey. Jesus invited them to share their disappointment and their feelings of hopelessness. He invited them to tell their story. 

Without even knowing what is happening, Jesus takes on their disappointment and despair just by listening and giving them a new perspective from the Scriptures. He erodes their grief and plants hope in their hearts again.

The second invitation is made by the travelers. They invite Jesus to stay with them and share a meal. In that sharing, they recognize Him, and their hearts burn anew with hope and love. Their despair is vanquished, and hope is restored. They recognize Jesus.

Two invitations brought them to hearts burning with hope. It took two invitations for them to recognize Jesus. First, Jesus asks to walk with them, and then they ask Jesus to stay with them.

It is no different when we experience sadness, doubt, and despair. When life is confusing, it takes two invitations to regain our sense of hope and our depth of faith.

We may not always recognize it. But when we hurt, Jesus is always reaching out with an invitation to walk with us. He is willing to get down into the mess with us and be with us, listening to our story. Of course, we have to have eyes ready to see, glad to welcome him. And just like these two disciples on the way to Emmaus, He will undoubtedly come in a way we do not recognize. But He will come. And if we listen, we will hear His request to walk with us.

Then it is our turn to reach out with the second invitation. Again, in humility and longing, we say, “Stay with me.” “Give me hope.”  

Only then are our eyes opened, and our hearts burn within us because we once again know the power and love of God.

These two disciples traveling to Emmaus had no idea they were being invited. They were then asking Jesus to stay with them. But they followed their broken hearts and were open to the movement of God in their lives.  

God came to them, and they were healed. In their healing, they recognized His presence. So too, for us. When life is heavy, and the burdens seem unbearable. Look for the invitations and welcome Jesus (whatever form He takes) to walk with and stay with you. It is about accepting the invitation to share our burden and to allow another to be the living presence of Jesus.

It is about knowing that when we live in the burning heart of Jesus, we will be called on to be Jesus for another who carries a heavy burden.

Jesus walks with us, especially when our burdens weigh us down. He walks with us in the form of others who invite us to share our burdens with them. There is nothing more holy than accepting the invitation of another to share our burdens. Nothing is more sacred than inviting another to stay with us in our hurt and pain. That is where we will see and recognize Jesus alive and living among us.

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen