Easter 3a 2026; 19 April
Luke 24:13-35; Jack Hardaway
WIDE OPEN
Kittens.
They are so cute.
I was recently sent a picture of a new litter of kittens to tempt me.
Oh my.
Their eyes were all closed, sealed shut, waiting to open, trying so hard to see.
My eyes are often closed.
What opens my eyes?
Am I waiting for my eyes to open?
Stay with us.
The disciples invite Jesus in, unaware.
One of the most beautiful prayers in our prayer book is inspired by the event, it is from evening prayer. “Lord Jesus stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love.” (page 124)
The end of things and sleep approaches, evening is at hand, it is getting dark, stay with us, don’t go. Stay. Abide. Tarry.
This story is overwhelming and beautiful and mysterious.
But the action is consistent throughout, what was closed is being opened.
The scriptures are opened.
The door is opened.
Eyes are opened.
Hearts are opened.
Bread is broken open.
The grave is opened.
There was no room in the Inn for the birth of the Messiah at the beginning of Luke.
Here at the end of Luke, the unknown Jesus is invited in to stay and break bread.
No room, invited in. That is the pattern. It is the way.
We close our selves off.
The gospel breaks us open.
That is the pattern.
We are closed to scriptures because we see it used to hurt people, Jesus opens scripture to show that it is not about hurting people, but about God enduring that hurt to set us free.
We close our eyes because we see too much pain.
Our eyes are opened because the one who suffers for us rises with us.
Our hearts are closed and grow cold because we are so often disappointed. Our hearts are warmed, burning with in us with the good company, the companion on the way, who walks with us.
The bread is broken making us one.
Our eyes were closed because we can’t see the unexpected, and they are opened by the gestures and mannerism of the one we love, the humanity of God.
The grave was closed. Now it is empty.
That is the pattern on the road to Emmaus.
That is the pattern of the Gospel, the good news.
Wide open.
God is wide open.
Opening what was closed.
The wide openness of God. That is who Jesus is.
The wide openness of God.
The pattern is set.
Stay with us for evening is at hand.