As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:28-32
“When Jesus enters into the home of His disciples it becomes His home. The guest becomes host. He who was invited now invites. The two disciples who trusted the stranger enough to let him enter into their inner space are now led into the inner life of their host. “Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them.” So simple, so ordinary, so obvious, and still — so very different! What else can you do when you share bread with your friends? You take it, bless it, break it, and give it. That is what bread is for: to be taken, blessed, broken, and given. Nothing new, nothing surprising. It happens every day, in countless homes. It belongs to the essence of living. We can’t really live without bread that is taken, blessed, broken, and given. Without it there is no table fellowship, no community, no bond of friendship, no peace, no love, no hope. Yet, with it, all can become new!”
Henri Nouwen in With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1994) 65.
When the two disciples invite Jesus in, everything changes for them.
Ponder this with me for a moment. Firstly, think of a person you know with whom you could take, bless, break, and give bread today?
Once you have that person in your mind, secondly, plan a meal with them. Then whilst together, invite Jesus into the conversation. See what happens.
Recently, when I was visiting a friend, we could have talked at length about our problems, our cares, worries, and troubles. Instead, I opened the Scriptures.
Something happened. We invited Jesus into our fellowship and He made all things new! Our troubles did not go away but our perspective lifted and our hope returned.
The same happened in one of our mealtime conversation with the Chilean delegation this week. Again, God showed up and the Word lifted everyone’s Spirits.
Invite Jesus into your conversations. It could be the most generous thing you do.
Pray for a great visit with my friend and mentor, Dan Busby, who is battling cancer. We meet tomorrow before I return to Denver. I don’t know what Scripture I will read. God will guide me.