Preacher – Revd Janet Allan
徒2: 14a、36-41；路24: 13-35Acts 2.14a, 36–41; Luke 24.13–35
在過去的歲月裏面，我認識過不少好的老師，而最優秀的老師，通常都擁有兩種特別的恩賜：第一、他們在敎導學生的時候，亦會同時聆聽學生的聲音；第二、他們懂得引導學生，去發掘自己已經知道的知識。如果學生有任何錯誤的理解，他們當然會加以糾正，然而最重要的是，他們會幫助學生，在已有知識的基礎上，更加深入地探討有關的課題。在這個過程裏面，學生或者需要重新理解自以為已經明白的事物，不過他們可以從自己熟悉的起步點出發，逐步增進知識。
今日的福音經課記載，耶穌走到革流巴和他的同伴身邊，問他們正在談論甚麽。明顯地，他們因為耶路撒冷最近發生的事而滿面愁容，但是耶穌只是簡單地問了一句：「是甚麽事呢？」耶穌當然知道發生了甚麽事，但是如果由他們自己敘述，他就能夠以他們自身的經歷同理解作為出發點，引導他們思考曾經讀過的聖經，幫助他們在經文的基礎上，更加深刻地了解所發生的事。
與別人並肩同行，亦是展開深度對話的有效途徑。或者他們太過專注於講述耶路撒冷發生的事情，所以沒有仔細看清楚耶穌。耶穌不是面對面的向他們提出問題，而是在他們身旁同行，引導他們理解他自己的故事。這兩位門徒完全沒有認出耶穌，因為耶穌是他們最無可能預計會在路上遇見的人，況且此刻他們心中，實在有太多的思緒牽掛。首先是耶穌被殺的消息，帶來傷痛、失落和絕望；然後又有關於耶穌復活的各種不同傳聞，一方面令人感到撲朔迷離，另一方面又帶來微妙的盼望。這些都是他們一時之間無法完全消化的。
耶穌聆聽他們的説話，指出他們對於所發生的事，未能夠正確地融會貫通，並且温和地引導他們了解經文。有時，惟有在旅途之中，大家一起緩步同行，沿路沒有其他事情打擾令人分心，才能夠產生這樣的對話。福音書記載説，耶他為他們講解經文的時候，他們的心就火熱起來。有了耶穌的講解，一切事情頓時變得明白合理。儘管他們仍未認出耶穌，但是或者他們已經開始隱約感受到，復活的主與他們同在，有一種似曾相識的感覺。
當他們來到以馬忤斯的時候，耶穌的敎導又進入另一個全新的層次，並且在擘餅的動作之中達到高潮：他坐下，拿起餅，祝謝、擘開，然後分給他們。就在這個時刻，兩位門徒終於認出耶穌。擘餅的舉動亦成為敎會生活的核心，歷世歷代的信徒都要藉著擘餅，認出耶穌臨到我們中間。革流巴和他的同伴回想過去幾日的經歷，發現這件事不單只是一個美好的回憶。耶穌親自來到他們當中，親身為復活的好消息作見證。擘餅成為一個記號，打開了他們的眼睛，令他們恍然大悟，終於認出耶穌，亦終於明白耶穌受死同復活的意義。
這兩位門徒經歷了漫長的一天，但是這次與主相遇，令他們的精神當堂振奮起來，立刻動身趕回耶路撒冷。單靠「以馬忤斯」這個名稱，其實不足以讓我們確定，門徒究竟去了哪個村莊，因為有四個不同地點，都叫做以馬忤斯。經文雖然提到這個以馬忤斯離耶路撒冷有多遠，但是對於路程的原始量度單位，以及這個以馬忤斯是位於耶路撒冷的哪個方向，我們都未有定論。不過，就讓我們假設，以馬忤斯距離耶路撒冷的路程，是我們所讀的路加福音譯本記載的七英里[1]或者更遠，而且當時已經天黑，路途上可能會遇上危險。可是，這兩位門徒卻仍然急不及待的上路，深知道必須要將這個好消息與其他門徒分享。他們同那些從空墳回家之後、因為害怕而將門鎖上的門徒，形成強烈對比。
我們領受聖餐的時候，所領受的是基督復活的生命。所以，我們同早期的門徒一樣，受到呼召要成為活潑的聖禮，肩負上帝的大愛，進入世界同所有人分享。感謝上主。
The Best Teacher: Guiding on the Road to Emmaus
I’ve known many good teachers, and the best among them have two particular gifts: they listen to those they are teaching; and they draw out what the student already knows, correcting any basic errors, but enabling the student to enter more deeply into the subject by building on what they know. It may require reinterpreting what they thought they knew, but they are starting from something familiar, then adding layers to their knowledge.
When Jesus comes alongside Cleopas and his companion, he asks them what they are talking about, and when it is clear they are disturbed by recent events in Jerusalem, he says simply, ‘What things?’ He knows only too well, yet if they give him their own account, he can start from their own understanding of their experience and then help them come to terms with what has happened in a deeper way, by drawing out and building on their knowledge of scripture.
Walking alongside someone can be a good way to have a deeper conversation too – perhaps they are so absorbed in telling their story that they don’t look too closely at Jesus. He’s not opposite them, quizzing them – he is next to them, guiding their understanding of his own story. So they totally fail to recognise him – after all, he is the last person they would expect to meet, and they have much to preoccupy them. They are still processing trauma, disappointment, despair, confusing contradictory reports, and strange hope.
Jesus listens to what they say, points out where they’ve failed to make the right connections, and gently guides them through scripture. You can have that kind of conversation on a journey, particularly perhaps when you are walking and the pace of travel is necessarily slower. There are no outside distractions or interruptions to claim their attention. Their hearts burn within them as he explains scripture – it all makes so much more sense. Perhaps they begin to have some awareness of the presence of the Risen Lord with them, a sense of familiarity, although they still do not recognise him.
And then when they reach Emmaus, Jesus’s teaching takes on a whole new dimension when it culminates in physical actions and they do recognise him: when he sits down, he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and shares it with them. This is the action which will be at the centre of the church and enable Jesus’ followers throughout all ages to recognise his presence in their midst. The memory of the last few days comes back to Cleopas and his companion and they realise it is more than just a memory – the risen Jesus is embodying the good news. This meal becomes a sign which opens their eyes – and finally unlocks their understanding. At last these disciples understand, at last they recognise him.
They have had a long enough day already, yet they are energised by this encounter sufficiently to hurry all the way back to Jerusalem. It isn’t known exactly which village was Emmaus, as the name doesn’t identify it sufficiently (there are 4 possible alternatives) and there is also discussion around the original measure of distance and the direction from Jerusalem. However, it was maybe the 7 miles we have in our translation of Luke, or even further, at a particularly dangerous time of day for travel. The two companions undertake that journey eagerly. In contrast to the disciples who initially went home afraid from the empty tomb and locked the house doors, they understand that they need to share the good news with their community.
When we share in the Eucharist we receive Christ’s risen life, and like the early disciples we are called to go out into our wider community, bearing God’s love to the world as living sacraments. Thanks be to God.
