Resurrection is a Road

Scripture — Luke 24:32 (NRSV)

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

Devotion

As we step away from Pentecost Sunday, I would like us to return to an old road in the story. The slowness of Eastertide lingers long after the tongues of fire have become quenched. I love that Eastertide lasts longer than Lent and that it celebrates that Jesus appears to individuals and the masses. I want to pause and reflect about that again. As we slip into Ordinary Time, I remember an ordinary road that invites us to step into resurrection in ordinary ways. Again and again.

Cleopas and his partner have walked the road to Emmaus with Jesus without recognizing him on the way. An ordinary walk on an ordinary day. Jesus is raised from the grave, the tomb is empty and the first thing he does is to come and find his friends as they are walking. Jesus is with them on long walks, in gardens, making fish tacos on the beach. Jesus is with them on the way even as he is the way, the truth, and the life. He walks the 7 miles slowly revealing himself to them. He takes his time. Resurrection takes time.

I am a resurrection believer and we are resurrection people. I don’t want the season to end without walking and looking for resurrection again and anew. I don’t know about you but the world continues to burn. I need resurrection in my soul, in my workplace, in my neighborhood, in my newsfeed. We are all still walking our long Emmaus roads looking for resurrection. Some days resurrection feels kind of dusty and rusty.

Resurrection is a long road that can hold our lamentation, our dashed hopes, our grief, our pain, our unanswered prayers, confusion, and disorientation. Jesus stayed in his body so that he could also stay in yours and understand yours. This is still good news today. Wherever the road finds you today, friends and leaders, look for the places on the road where you feel your heart burn with resurrection. Look for it in the beauty of chasing sunsets or watching the moonrise. Look for it in the face of a friend that reminds you, “You got this. You can do this. Let me have hope on your behalf.” Look for it in ordinary strangers who smile at you or in random acts of kindness.

Stay on the road to resurrection, even if it’s a dusty road. He will be with you until the end. And Jesus will love you until the end.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).