Sermon - Luke 24:13-35

<p>When I did my Clinical Pastoral Education at Maine Medical Center, I vividly remember one of my patients, a dear, elderly Episcopalian man who was dying. This man deeply touched my heart. I will never forget the day I read him today’s story from Luke’s gospel. After I finished reading, he said to me, “There’s always an Emmaus.” The next day, my friend died, but I shall always remember what he said in response to that story.</p> <p><em>There is always an Emmaus.</em> Biblical archeologists tell us that the exact location of the village of Emmaus is unknown. There are at least nine possible locations that are candidates for the small biblical town, but historians tell us there is no record of any village called Emmaus in any other ancient source. We simply do not know where Emmaus might have been. Tradition tells us that it might have been a place just a few hours walk from Jerusalem. However, New Testament scholars, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, suggest that Emmaus is nowhere. Emmaus is <em>nowhere</em> precisely because Emmaus is <strong>everywhere</strong>. Every one of us has at one time, or indeed for some of us, many times, traveled along the road to Emmaus. Yes, <em>there is always an Emmaus</em>.</p> <p><em>I know that I have been on the road to Emmaus most of my life. I’ve had lots</em> of company on that road to Emmaus as many others have walked with me, taking me to a deeper understanding of scripture and a deeper understanding of faith in the risen Christ. Like Cleopas and his companion who traveled that road to Emmaus while broken and grieving, I have made that journey in a state of confusion, bewilderment, and brokenness. And, as I have traveled that road, the risen Christ has been present, speaking to me through my companions in the conversations we have had. You see, I have always had questions and I have voraciously wanted to learn more and go deeper in my understanding faith, religion, and indeed life. I have always loved to discuss the important things of life, and I have always had an