A Pandemic Journey

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Introduction

Today’s service is based on one of the resurrection stories in the gospels, the Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35. Traditionally the story was told in the season of Easter. We are far from the season, just a month away from Advent. However, the seasons of our spirits don’t always follow the liturgical seasons. In fact, this pandemic journey we are on feels like we are in Good Friday or Holy Saturday over the long haul. We have been experiencing loss, grief, powerlessness, vulnerability, sadness, tiredness, and fatigue. We don’t know how much longer we should or can endure. What makes these times more challenging is the fact that we can’t get together when we need each other most. We have heard many stories of survival during the wars or the Great Depression. At least, they got people to work together. They were able to draw the energy they needed from one another to overcome whatever challenges they were facing. In this pandemic we are told to stay inside and to limit our contacts. By now we all have learned how social isolation is killing us. I don’t know what better time than now to hear the resurrection story, how God comes to us when everything seems hopeless. Throughout the service you will hear portions of the story and my reflections. I divided the story into four themes, through which, I believe, God can meet us during these times: accompanying, abiding, sharing, and remembering.   

Scripture (The Message)

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

Reflection: Accompanying

There is an African proverb, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Imagine you are going for a long walk alone. All of sudden, you trip over a rock, and you end up not being able to get up or walk. You know the importance of having someone to rely on. I remember hiking in the mountains with a group of people. When we reached to the mountain top, my knee gave out, and I could not walk. One person in our team put me on his back and hiked all the way to the bottom. It was uncomfortable to be carried by someone I barely knew, but he saved me. Thanks to his kindness and the teamwork, I was able to reach my goal. We all made it even though it took longer than we expected. Going together involves not only accompanying others, but also being accompanied by others. Sometimes the latter is harder than the former because it requires our vulnerability. Without it there is no authentic relationship because there is no interdependency. To be accompanied by others, we must acknowledge our limits and embrace the gifts they bring. We need everyone, and we must care for each other. That’s the only way we can get through this. That’s not just a lesson we have learned from this pandemic. That’s basically what our sisters and brothers from the marginalized groups have cried out for centuries. 

Two people are walking together on their way to Emmaus. They are in deep conversation, going over all the things that have happened. Jesus comes up and walks along with them, but they are not able to recognize who he is until they acknowledge how much they need the stranger.

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” 

So he went in with them.

Reflection: Abiding

I looked up the dictionary to search meanings of the word, abide: to bear patiently, to wait for, to accept without objection, to remain stable or to continue in a place. There is no better word to describe what we have been going through during the pandemic. We try our best to abide by the Covid-19 rules, and we abide within our home as much as possible. We have rediscovered the meaning of home. It’s not just a place to dwell. It is also a place of refuge that can protect us from any harms. As many places including shelters are locked down it is increasingly crucial to keep home safe. The rise of domestic violence worldwide during the lockdown shows how fragile our home is. It is where we are nurtured and nourished but also hurt and wounded. Home is where we can experience love while longing for it even more. Home is where we are called to minister especially during these times. Home has become a school, workplace, sanctuary, concert hall, meeting room, playground just to name a few. I don’t know about you, but when one place becomes multifunctional all of sudden, it’s hard to switch from one to another. I desperately need to change the scenery in order to function well.

The two travellers arrive at home. It must be strange to come home after being away for too long. But this is where they are called to be, to begin again where they started. The travellers ask the stranger to stay with them. That’s all they need to truly abide.

And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

Reflection: Sharing

Sharing in a no-touch world is challenging, but that’s part of our human nature. Absence makes the heart fonder. While practicing social distancing, we find ourselves hungry for a deeper connection than a physical touch. For, heart speaks to heart, spirit speaks to spirit, and deep speaks to deep. We just need to find more creative ways to share. 

I will give you just two examples among many. Last week, one person from our leadership team suggested an idea of reaching out to our neighbouring schools to show our respect and support. She said in her email: “Given the huge pressure on schools(knowing from all my teacher and kid relatives and friends), knowing they were supposed to have a Day at home Friday for prep work but many got called back to suddenly start moving desks around, knowing that in my grandson’s school which has some empty rooms the kids will be divided into 2 rooms and teacher will go back and forth, I wondered if it would be good outreach if we brought a couple fruit baskets or something and delivered to the schools with a message of support.” The leadership agreed unanimously. So, we dropped off items at the door for school secretaries. They both seemed surprised and delighted. We got a small plant, a box of tiny Halloween candy bars, and a cut up fruit tray for each. We wrote a note that it was from us to offer them some support and let them know we knew their work was hard, but we prayed for their strength to carry on. Signed from FGUC your neighbour and friend.

Another member of our church sent a thank-you card to a local TV station for the hard work they were doing during Covid-19. To her surprise, they sent her their thank-you card for the thank-you card, saying they had never received anything like that. A small gesture can go a long way. There are so many stories she can tell about how her card ministry made impact on people’s lives. 

Both examples tell us what makes us share. When we begin to pay attention to those around us with empathy that we begin to respond to the cries we have heard, offering what we can. “Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them, and they recognized him.” Sharing makes the presence of Christ known to the world. 

Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?” They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!” Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

Reflection: Remembering

Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “The Sabbath is the presence of God in the world…. God is not in things of space, but in moments of time.” How can we recognize our moments as holy? That’s the question we need to wrestle with when we can’t gather in our place of worship. I usually have a strong sense of place. I pay attention to everything around me: trees, water, wildlife, insects, the sun, and the moon. Showing my gratitude and respect to each of them, I know I am in relationship with everything that I share the space with. I passionately believe that God is in every place. However, I discovered during these times how challenging it is to experience God in moments of time. I have not lived as fully as possible in the present moments. There have been times when I felt numb, worried, stressed, or upset, and not being able to bring my authentic self to my daily living by failing to recognize God in those moments. More and more I realize the importance of sanctifying time. That is, to experience time as holy - as time lived with and for God.

One way to sanctify time is our act of remembrance. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8) Remembering is at the heart of becoming God’s children. It was the act of remembrance that that made the children of Israel free, not the escape from the Pharaoh. We are called to remember who God is and what God has created and continue to create with us.  

The two travellers felt on fire on the road, but it is only after they remember what happened that they begin to take an action to share the good news. In remembrance it is not only time that is sanctified, but our lives also.