Easter Wednesday

Gospel – Luke 24:13-35

Chance Encounters

Knoxville Airport

A couple of days ago we did a bit of shopping at our little local Amish market.  As we loaded up on fresh baked goods and strawberries the size of your fist, I noticed the cashier was having a bad day.  At one point, the manager took her outside and, when she returned, she looked so angry and ready to burst into tears.  For whatever reason, she must have been chewed out by her boss. So when we finally got to the register and paid for our groceries, I just thanked her and told her I hope she has a good/better day.  That got just a bit of a smile from her and she brightened up, if only briefly.

It made me think of all the chance encounters we have on a daily basis and how much a small gesture of kindness can make such a big difference. I’ve done a fair share of traveling these past 2 years, lots of frequent flyer miles to/from Chicago and Knoxville and I’ve crossed paths with loads of people - some with smiles, some dazed and half-awake, many with sad/angry expressions!  Sometimes we notice them; more often than not, we pass them by without thinking.

So it is today with the disciples on their way to Emmaus.  They are returning to Emmaus, crushed and saddened by Jesus’ death.  And yet Jesus walks with them, talks with them, teaches them.  But it is only later on, after He has left, that they realized it was Him.  Only after they realize their hearts were on fire with His words and in His breaking of the bread, then they slap their foreheads and realize the truth – that Jesus was right there with them.  And they didn’t even realize it til later!

I wonder how many encounters with Jesus that we will miss today? Moments when we have a chance to ‘be Jesus’ to someone in need!  Moments when Jesus crosses our path in the form of a person in search of food, comfort or just a smile!  Are we paying attention?  Will we notice?  Will we respond?

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