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Why “Emmaus Always”?
The internet was still in its infancy and the publisher of a number of books on the historical Jesus offered to send out a weekly email of a dialogue between three Jesus scholars: Luke Timothy Johnson, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. I immediately signed up and will never forget the quote from Crossan (see above) in that exchange to which Borg excitedly responded, “I wish I had said that!” The quote succinctly sums up the position of both Borg and Crossan that many of the events recorded in the Gospels are better understood at parables rather than as historical facts. The Emmaus story told in the Gospel of Luke is the classic example. Two travelers on the way to Emmaus are joined by a stranger. They are discussing the events in Jerusalem, how Jesus was crucified by the Roman authorities and then appeared to many of his followers three days later. This “stranger” educates them on what the scriptures taught about the Messiah, forecasting his resurrection. As they approach their destination, the two invite their traveling companion into their home for dinner. Then, in the midst of breaking bread, their eyes are suddenly opened and they recognize Jesus who then vanishes from their midst. In a single “parabolic afternoon”, Crossan explains, Luke describes the experience the followers of Jesus had over and over again in the days, months and years that followed the first Easter and how, in the breaking of bread, they found the risen Christ in their midst. Not fact but truth that goes beyond fact. This is the experience not just of those ancient disciples, but of followers of the Divine ever since. Life that emerges out of death, power that comes out of weakness, love that wins over hate. Emmaus never happened, and yet, it always does.
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