Open Scriptures and Broken Bread
AM Psalm 119:1-24 • PM Psalm 12, 13, 14
1 Samuel 16:1-13 • Acts 10:1-16 • Luke 24:12-35
On May 24th, 1738, John Wesley attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London, hosted by the Moravians. Depressed, confused, and conflicted from his experience in ministry—having been ordained a priest in 1728 and sent to the colonies—he was back in London, and reluctantly attended this meeting. However, he listened attentively as a preface written by Martin Luther for St Paul’s letter to the Romans was read. After attending this meeting, he wrote in his journal later that, “while [Luther] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Known as the “Aldersgate experience,” the opening of the scripture here would prove to be a life changing encounter with the Christ John Wesley already knew, served, and loved.
The gospel reading today provides such a moment as well; two disciples, leaving Jerusalem after the crucifixion of Jesus, are similarly depressed at how their expectations in following Jesus were shattered. On their way to the area called Emmaus, a stranger appears, and attends them on their walk. The stranger begins a lengthy exposition from the scriptures, teaching and revealing to them why Jesus died in the manner he did. The stranger remains with them into the evening; he blesses bread and breaks it, then vanishes. At this moment, the Jesus they already knew, served, and loved was revealed to them, and they exclaimed 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?”
The specific location of Emmaus, where the disciples were journeying to, is not exactly known. Similarly, the specific location on Aldersgate for John Wesley’s experience is not quite known either — only a plaque commemorates the probable location. One theologian commenting on the lack of certainty for where Emmaus is suggests that it means Emmaus can represent more than a geographic location. Instead, it becomes any place and moment where Jesus meets us in this way. When we open ourselves, just as the scriptures were opened for understanding. When we seek blessing for ourselves when we are broken, just as a Christ broke blessed bread. And we carry these moments with the deep assurance that Jesus is walking alongside us, and waiting for us wherever we are going, to turn our confusion and sorrow into fiery joy.
Written by Nathan John Haydon
Nathan earned a PhD from the University of Arkansas researching Medieval literature, languages, and theology, and he currently teaches literature and history at a school in Bentonville. He’s a Benedictine oblate of Subiaco Abbey, and a deacon, moving towards the conditional ordination to the priesthood (feel free to ask him what this means!) in the Episcopal Church.