A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004. Please read St. Luke 24:13-35.

During this past Lenten season, the homilies for the Evening Prayer services have emphasized the journey of faith that we all participate in through our faith in Jesus Christ. Each week a story from the Bible was selected to highlight a literal “road” that is compared to a spiritual road part of the journey: for example, the Jericho Road (the parable of the Good Samaritan) or the Road of the Cross (the story of the passion and death of our Savior). The series concludes today, Easter Sunday, with the Road to Emmaus – the story of two of Jesus’ disciples who meet the resurrected Lord on their way to the town of Emmaus (St. Luke 24).

Sometimes travelers are uncertain as to whether they are on the right road or not when trying to reach a destination. Perhaps the directions are unclear, or a wrong turn was made sometime earlier in the trip. Great relief comes when the traveler realizes in time that he or she has been on the right road all along. In the case of the two travelers to Emmaus, they were on the right road all along, spiritually speaking, but they did not realize it until sometime later. Their conversation shows that they were disciples of Jesus and had heard all of the reports about his resurrection; yet in spite of the good news, they were sad and were unable to recognize Jesus when he was walking and talking with them (verses 16-17). “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel,” they lamented. Had they chosen the right path in putting their trust in Jesus? It was necessary for Jesus to wake up the bewildered travelers – “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken?” Our Lord then explains the Scriptures to them, showing that they point to his death and resurrection. However, it was not until Jesus broke bread with them that their eyes were opened, and they understood who had been speaking with them. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” they responded in retrospect. The now joyous travelers told others the marvelous story about how Jesus was “known to them in the breaking of bread.” They realized that they had been on the right path in their journey of faith all along.

Perhaps we can relate to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. We who have been part of Christ’s church know the story of Easter quite well by now. We have heard the reports of the women and others who have seen the risen Lord. We also may be sad and confused, wondering if we have chosen the right path in following Christ. Whether we know it or not, we are on the right path, and the same Jesus is truly present with us today. It is he who still opens minds, by the Holy Spirit, to understand the Scriptures; and it is he who is with us always, making himself known to people of faith in the “breaking of bread.” Take heart uncertain traveler on the road to Emmaus, the Lord is risen indeed!