November 16, 2009

Bob’s Sabbatical

November 16, 2009 – The Way of Resurrection

 

            The town
of Emmaus no longer exists.  There are
four places that have been identified as possibilities, based on different
readings of Luke 24:13 ff. and the distance from Jerusalem (some texts have 60
stadia (7.5 miles) and others read 160 stadia (19 miles).  A few years ago part of an ancient Roman road
were found when a pipe-line was being installed.  It is within the range of 60 stadia.  There is no town, but it is a road that went
somewhere.

            Before
we leave the college to walk the “road” we are reminded by Andrew that the
story in Luke is very specific, and talks about both Jesus’ presence with the
two disciples, but also about his absence. 
The absence is important, as is his absence from the tomb.  It means we cannot limit Jesus to a place and
time, nor to our expectations.

            For the
past two weeks we have been on a journey of the past, and have considered many
different aspects or roles that Jesus played (plays) in our lives.  No one description fits for all places and
all times.  Now we head back home, to a
journey of the future.  As we return, we
will indeed find Jesus in our Galilee, our places of mission.  We will never capture or keep him, but we
will glimpse him in the people and places we serve.

            We head
to Moza (Motsa?) to walk a bit of ancient Roman Road, as did the two disciples.  The road is rough and overgrown.  Occasionally we see the pavement stones, but
otherwise it is just a path.  Andrew has
told us that this is something of a parable of life.  We are going to need to help one another on
the path.  As we walk, Andrew asks us to
think about what questions we might have for Jesus at this point in our
pilgrimage, and what questions Jesus has for us?

            When we
got to the piece of road, we walked in silence. 
As we went on the sometimes loose rocks, it occurred to me that helping
others can be risky.  The helper often
has to stand on less “safe” ground in order to help others get to safe places.  Perhaps that is part of ministry (ordained or
lay), to be willing to stand on less safe ground as we help others on the path
of life, and especially on the path to Jesus Christ.

            After
our walk, we went to Abu Ghosh, another place that has been identified as
possibly the location of Emmaus.  We went
to a Church on a hilltop, Arc d’Alliance (Ark of the Covenant) for an outdoor
Eucharist together.  When the Israelites
placed “God” in the Ark of the Covenant and carried it with them, this area is
said to be one of the places they stayed for a time.  The following is the collect we used for our
drive, and for the Eucharist:

O God, whose
greeting we miss

And whose
departure we delay,

Make our hearts
burn with insight

On our ordinary
roads

That as we grasp
you in the broken bread,

We may also let
you go,

And return to
speak your word of life

Through Jesus
Christ. Amen.

                                               
(Janet Morley)

            The
Church was very plain inside, but had lovely ceilings.  The statue atop the Church of Mary holding
the child Jesus struck me.  If you look
closely, you see the child has a communion host in his outstretched hand.  The words of the collect echoed as we took
communion together for the last time as this particular pilgrim group, “that as
we grasp you in the broken bread, we may also let you go.”  It is about time for me to let go of the
sabbatical, and to come home where we can be about finding the Christ in one
another and all those we seek to serve through St. Paul’s.

    Peace,

        Bob