In the breaking of the bread While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” Luke 24:15-18 Their hopes had been shattered. And yet as they walked with this “stranger,” hope was rekindled. Even as he opened the scriptures to them their eyes remained closed as to who he was. And yet their hearts burned. Luke tells us that these were two of Jesus’ disciples and that their eyes were unable to recognize him...until he broke the bread. Something so simple and familiar. I wonder how often we walk along with our hopes dashed and fail to see Jesus coming alongside us in the ordinary everyday circumstances of our lives. Just as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus had hoped that Jesus would redeem all of Israel, aren’t we also hoping for redemption from our brokenness? Every week when we celebrate the Eucharist, we take a piece of bread and break it in two. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us! O that our eyes would be open to see Jesus in this simple and familiar act. Christ, the living bread, broken for us…that we might be holy and whole. Alleluia! Let us keep the feast! Blessings,
Matthew+ O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 224) | 
