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THE EMMAUS TRIPTYCH
Luke 24:13-35
I. THE UNNAMED FRIEND
Cleopas and friend walked and talked
with lumbering gaits and downcast faces
shining hopes of sweet redemption
dashed and obliterated
They asked of each other the Why question
for if anyone had come to fill those old prophecies
surely it had seemed to be Him
that Jesus they'd come to know
through signs and wonders
that appeared to be miraculous
Their so-called Messiah had been crucified
was dead and gone. Yes, gone, gone, gone!
Even His cold dead body was missing
from the tomb that had been sealed—
He approached them
in the midst of their perplexity
on the road to Emmaus
He walked with them, talked with them
they even felt His fire
but didn't know who He was
and strange as that may seem
how often have I been
the unnamed friend of Cleopas?
I, too, profess to know Him, know Him well
yet fail to recognize Him along the road
II. THE STRANGER
Taking the barley loaf in his hands
the stranger lifted it
Baruch ata Adonai
Eloheynu Melech ha Olam
ha motzie lechem
min ha'aretz
He tore it, offered it, and just as it fell
into reaching grasps
their astonished eyes recognized Him
and in that instant
He utterly vanished from their sight!
Leaping from the table, Cleopas and his friend
stumbled over each other
looking under, over, around and around
knowing even as they did
it was True after all
As they looked at each other
their disbelief became relief
the sweet awakening of a deep Belief
for Truth visited them along the way
joined them at their table, broke their humble bread
They asked each other
Were not our hearts burning
as He talked with us on the road
and opened the Scriptures to us?
Now, blazing temples of Holy Fire
they suddenly knew their once shattered hearts
would never cool again
III. MY EMMAUS
When I first found You, or You found me
I thought I'd go from strength to strength
pinnacle to pinnacle, joy to joy
and so it was for a season
when love was new
then the whirlwind came
thrashing through my world
upending all my securities
leaving me stunned, broken, alone
certain I would die
so I waited for You to save me
waited for prayers pleaded at Your scarred feet
to avail their just reward
for I believed in You, trusted, hoped
Eyes veiled, I couldn't find You
failed to recognize You along the road
Had I believed in vain?
Then You began to speak
not audibly, but whenever I opened Your Word
Radiance, Glory, Unfailing Love
sprang from the page and became manifest
My heart blazed! I began to shine!
Now, on the other side of sorrow
I dare not forget my burning heart,
Your Glorious Presence
so I abide, remembering
it is You, my Jesus
Who walks with me along the road
Maude Carolan