When He Broke The Bread
As they sat down to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! Luke 24: 30-31
There’s a story about a woman who happened to wander into a church on a Sunday morning. She was an atheist, so she wasn’t quite sure why she decided to sit there in a pew, and then when she was offered communion, for some reason she didn’t turn it down. As she heard the words “Take this bread” and ate the piece of bread, it was as if she received a revelation. From that moment on, she followed Jesus and then started a food bank so that she could help feed others.
Our scripture from Luke gives glimpses of what’s possible even when people aren’t aware of who Jesus is. We read the account of two followers of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus who encounter the risen Lord, but don’t recognize Him. It’s hard not to wonder why Jesus kept them from recognizing Him. He could easily have told them earlier who He was and filled them with joy. Yet God’s ways are not our ways. And when Jesus “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them,” their eyes were opened.
Can we accept that we can’t control how or when Jesus reveals Himself to us? We must trust in His grace and goodness to open our eyes, minds, and hearts through scripture, prayer, and many other surprising ways.
Jesus allowed these followers, on the day of His resurrection, to recognize Him first and foremost in the breaking of bread, permitting them to understand and even to taste the truth of who He really is. Whenever we take the Bread given for us, may our eyes be open to see Him.
Lord, thank You for the means of grace that reveal You, our risen Savior. Amen.