“While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-­‐16)

 Often we resemble the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Downcast, we trudge along, walking away from our own confusing Jerusalem, where things have not gone as we expected. In the fog that surrounds our circumstances we may misunderstand exactly what God is allowing. Like those two favored ones, we fail to comprehend that he journeys beside us, waiting to reveal himself in his perfect time.

What is it that keeps us from recognizing him? Like that pair of ancient followers, we ask the Lord incredulously, “Do you not know the things that have happened in these days?”

As if he did not fully comprehend what had just taken place on the cross and in the tomb, they instructed him in what he already knew by heart. Ignorantly, they believed him to be uninformed and out of touch. Do we not treat him with similar disdain when we attempt to enlighten him about our complex lives?

He rebuked them, and he rightfully rebukes us, too. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe…” (Luke 24:25) How illogical to act as if the Creator of the Universe is powerless to work on our behalf.

Like those two comrades of old, let us implore the Lord “to stay” and open the Scriptures to us so our hearts may burn. As we wait for him, he will reveal to us as well that he is in our midst, on the dusty road, in the middle of our journey, home.

Elizabeth A. Mitchell