Scripture:
When I sat down to study the village of Emmaus I discovered that its location today is unknown. There are several places that may be the site of this ancient village but the evidence in each case is inconclusive. Likewise, the meaning of the world Emmaus is also disputed; some would have it that it means "a hot spring," others that it derives its name from an ancient general, and so on.
Emmaus is, however, a place where you can go. Emmaus is a place of the heart. Luke tells us that two of the disciples were on their way there when they met our resurrected Lord. The disciples through divine intervention did not recognize Jesus and our Lord asked them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" One of the disciples named Cleopas then began to tell our Lord about our Lord. I find an example of our Lord's sense of humor in this, as He permits Cleopas to continue with his narrative. (This always reminds me of Joseph's interview with his brothers in Egypt.) Jesus asks questions and gently draws the story of His own death and resurrection out of them. When they are finished Jesus - still unrecognized - says 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 enter into His glory?" He then interprets to the two the prophecies concerning his life. They are willing to listen to this stranger, because they seek wisdom and understanding. They do not cut Him off thinking themselves superior in knowledge and wisdom. This is the beauty of the Emmaus walk: It is open to discovery and growth.
Walking to Emmaus is an exercise of the soul rather than of the legs. These two early disciples were exploring the depth of their own faith, or willingness to believe. Freely they shared their story even though they did not know how the story would end. They were not attempting prophecy but evaluation of their present spiritual states. This is a good place to be sometimes. Walking to Emmaus gives us a chance to know where we are rather than knowing where we would like to be. When we are walking to Emmaus our Lord can help us in our journey, because we are opened to guidance. Cleopas and his friend listen intently to our Lord's words: they wanted to continue their growth but were not sure what to do next. Their wiliness to listen assured that they would find their way.
Sometimes we forget that we are on a journey. We want to know all there is to know, and fall into the trap of thinking that we have all wisdom. When we do this we shut ourselves off from further knowledge and growth. We are students to eternity and though we may be called upon from time to time to be teaches in the service of our Savior, our teaching is incomplete because our knowledge is incomplete.
After our Lord prophesied to the two disciples, Luke tells us, "They approached the village where they were going, and he acted as though he would go father. And they urged Him, saying, "stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." And He went to stay with them. And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it He began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, "were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
The two disciples had been willing to listen, and now they were given the gift of discernment. They now knew that what they had heard was another step on their spiritual journey. Their Lord had risen and they had spoken with Him and received bread by His hand. They then went to Jerusalem and met with the eleven. When the met with the eleven they were told that Jesus had risen and that He had appeared to Peter. After hearing this the two explained to the eleven what had happened to them. Here again the two were willing first to listen and then to speak; their openness to instruction increased their understanding.
As Christians and specifically as Swedenborgians we can learn a lot from these two early disciples. We can learn to listen before we speak. We can learn that we have much to learn and often this learning will come from those whom we seek to instruct, and that by this sharing wisdom and understanding grow. Amen.
Scripture:
Now on that same day two of them 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 hope 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?" The beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures.
Luke 24:13-27
Reading
from Swedenborg:
To be "in the spirit," is to be "in visions;" which is effected by the opening of the sight of one's spirit; which, when it is opened, the things which are in the spiritual world appear as clearly as the things which are in the natural world appear before the sight of the body. I can testify that it is so, from the experience of many years. In this state the disciples were when they saw the Lord after His resurrection, wherefore it is said: "Their eyes were opened." Abraham was in a similar state when he saw the three angels, and spoke with them. So were Hagar, Gideon, Joshua, and others, when they saw the angels of Jehovah; and, in like manner, the boy of Elisha, when he saw the mountain full of chariots and horses of fire round about Elisha.
Apocalypse Revealed, #36
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