Luke 24:13-35 tells the story of two persons who take a walk together. They are disciples of Jesus, and on that first Easter Day they take a walk together from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It says that they were talking with each other about the things that were happening when a third person sidled up to them, and joined them in their journey. He asked them what they were talking about, and then joined in the conversation, teaching them from the scriptures. When they reached their destination…a town called Emmaus…they invited this stranger to stay with them. He did so, until the breaking of the bread at the meal. At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they saw that it was Jesus who had traveled in the midst of them, and been in the middle of their conversation, the whole time.

The Emmaus experience is that of being with fellow journeyers in conversation, recognizing that all the time Jesus is in the midst of us, who burns in our hearts and opens the scriptures to us (Lk. 24:32). It is not an isolated experience. It did not happen only once, but happens any time disciples of Jesus come together intentionally to engage one another and God’s Truth. We are all on the Way, as it says in Acts; we are all on pilgrimage; we are all taking a walk together towards Emmaus. And Jesus is always in our midst. 

We travel together. God calls a people. God gathers us as a people; forms us as a people; and sends us as a people. We learn by listening to one another, and we grow by speaking our truth. We are connected with God and one another in a powerful way when we pray with one another, serve with one another, study with one another, and when we are spiritual friends with one another.