Kirkepiscatoid

("Supper at Emmaus, embroidery piece by He Qi)

The Fifth Station--Jesus is Known in the Breaking of the Bread

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You broke bread with the disciples and vanished.

As they drew near to Emmaus, the disciples still had not recognized they were traveling along with Jesus. They were getting ready to stay in the village for the evening, but he acted as if he was going on to another place. The disciples, not wanting him to leave, said, "Stay with us. It will be evening soon, and you can go onward in the morning. We'd like to have supper with you."

Something about sitting at the table with this man was relaxing and familiar. Again, they could not quite put their finger on it, but they knew that the presence of this man brought back comfortable memories to them. But as he took the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them, suddenly their eyes were fully opened. They had been traveling with Jesus all along! Yet, there was something different about him now. He seemed to be "more of himself" than he ever was. But before they could ask him any more questions, he vanished.

They next day they returned to Jerusalem to the eleven and their companions. As they approached, they told the two disciples, "You're not going to believe this, but the risen Lord appeared to Simon Peter!" Cleopas and the other disciple just looked at them and said, "Yes, we do believe you, because he just appeared to us on the road to Emmaus and broke bread with us."

Leader: As different disciples saw the risen Christ,
People: They began to tell their stories to each other.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Ever-present God, who travels with us daily,
open our eyes to see that Christ is walking with us
on roads where we do not expect him.
Enhance our ears so that we can hear his words to us
when our eyes still cannot see him.
Open our hearts to his understanding
when we hear the words but try to talk ourselves out of them.
When, at last, we see, hear, and understand Christ,
grant us the courage to tell our stories to each other,
as these stories are meant to be shared openly.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!