The One They Did Not See
Scripture Reading — Luke 24:13-35
“We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”
The mood of the disciples on the way to Emmaus could describe our mood after Christmas. “They stood still, their faces downcast.” A time of anticipation is often followed by a letdown. In December everything looks forward to Christmas morning. But once Christmas has come and gone, what is left to look forward to? Gifts need to be returned, the tree disposed of, decorations stored, and credit cards bills sorted out. We try to put off the letdown for as long as we can. We still have New Year’s to anticipate. But New Year’s is soon followed by another long year.
The disciples on the road to Emmaus had hoped that “Jesus of Nazareth” was “the one.” In their disappointment they did not pay much attention to the person who came to walk along with them. They were surprised that he did not seem to know what had happened. They told him how their hopes had not been met in the way they had expected. They listened when he told them how the Christ had to suffer and then enter his glory. But they did not see who was with them until he broke bread with them.
The mood after Christmas can be a bit muted. In these days, may we recognize that the one we have been hoping for has been with us all along.
Ever-present God, revealed in the Word and sacraments, lift the veil of disappointment from our eyes, that we may see you are with us always, in Jesus. Amen.
About the author — Norman Visser
Norman Visser has served as a pastor of churches in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and South Dakota. He states that while he is “not known for waiting patiently,” he is “working on it.” Norman and his wife, Marcia, have three children.
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