She said that it tells the story of us, the regular Christians on our life journeys. It's about all the ways we encounter Jesus -- by hearsay, by Scripture, and, at last, by sacrament. That's so obvious; why have I never thought of that before? Cleopas and the one who doesn't even get named aren't part of Jesus' inner circle, just followers. They're heading the seven miles back home from Jerusalem in "that frozen state" after the death of someone close. They're preoccupied by their cares and the road ahead and somehow don't recognize Jesus. "Jesus kept a straight face while they told him about the crucifixion and the reports of the resurrection -- which they don't believe." Then he reviews the scriptures that lay the foundations for his mission.
They recognize him during an enactment of the eucharist -- that, I'd heard before. I'd not noticed that, by blessing and breaking the bread, Jesus performs the duty of their host. Mo Pat emphasized the joy that excites them so much that, having just arrived home, they leap up and run back, at night, to Jerusalem to spread the news. When they get there, the apostles have also been visited by the resurrected Jesus. Here's where Mo Pat reminded us of that state of mourning when we're like one of the statues that the Snow Queen made of Narnians -- melted and freed. I teared up there.
Mo Pat said, "Now, we may think, Why doesn't Jesus just pop in to see us the way he did for those in that upper room?" She concluded, he does. Of course, it's in communion, it's in the church community. "Go now, run out and tell everyone," she said, "only wait until the end of the service."
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