Their Eyes Were Opened, and They Knew Him

May 2, 2004

The Rev. Dr. Anthony J. Godlefski, Pastor

Montgomery United Methodist Church

Luke 24: 13-35

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, good morning!

I have a question for you. What comes to your mind when I ask you to picture a really beautiful visit? Do you see the face of a loved one, a dear friend, a family member nearby? Do you picture that happy conversation? Picture in your mind a really beautiful visit.

I’d like to talk with you this morning about the question, “Does God visit people?” What do you think? Does God visit people?

I remember visits when I was a little boy. Sunday afternoon was just for visiting. Sunday morning was always in church, and on Sunday afternoon my parents would get into the old Nash Rambler. I’d be sitting in the back seat, and off we would go to visit relatives.

Sometimes we’d go visit my Uncle Stas, my godfather, and he was so happy to see us! I always loved him. We’d come through the door, he’d greet my mother and father with the Polish greeting for an aunt and uncle. “Stryj, Stryjenka, Antosh, I’m so glad you’re here!” And the wonderful, gentle aromas of the food they were preparing filled the air. My cousins were there; we could play. I’d watch the adults sitting and talking over old times. I’d watch those who had a problem going to other older family members to consult and get comfort. Visit can be a beautiful thing, can’t it? It can be life-changing.

Friend, I’m here to tell you today that God visits people. God visits people like you and me. And we have a beautiful picture of that in this morning’s gospel. Two of Jesus’s followers were walking away from Jerusalem on Easter morning, but they didn’t know it was Easter morning. They were still in the pits. They were devastated, because their savior had been crucified. As they walked and talked, so broken-heartedly, Jesus Himself stood among them. They didn’t know it was Him, but He said, “What are you talking about as you walk together and are sad?”

And they began to pour their hearts out. “Are you the only stranger in town who doesn’t know the things that have happened?”

Jesus said, “What things?”

And then they told Him, “Oh, about Jesus of Nazareth, who was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and we had hoped” – aren’t they the saddest words? – “we had hoped that He would be the one to redeem Israel. But our leaders and chief priests had Him crucified, and now it is the third day since it has happened.”

Jesus continued to walk with them as they talked. “This morning, some of our women astonished us. They said that they went to the tomb and it was empty, and that they’d seen a vision of angels who told them that He is alive.”

And Jesus visited with them and said, “Oh, slow of heart to believe, take a look at the scripture and let God bless you about what really happened.”

And then, as they approached Emmaus, Jesus made as though he was going to go on, but they said, “Abide with us, for the day is far spent, and it is eventide. Come in. Abide. Visit us.”

Jesus went in, and they sat down at a table, and Jesus took a loaf of the bread. He blessed it, and He broke it, and their eyes were opened, and they knew it was Him. And He vanished from their sight.

In the midst of their broken heartedness, their despair, God in the form of Jesus visited with His people. I want to offer that to you, my friend, as a word of consolation. God knows what troubles you. God knows what broken heartedness you may be feeling. And He wants you to know that you are never alone, no matter what you face. He walks with you and cares and blesses.

“Tell me how, Pastor. How does God visit with me?” God visits with you in contemplation. When you pray, when you read your Bible, when you read good books about God, you can feel His spirit directly. God visits with you in Holy Communion and when we gather together in church. But there’s one more – God visits with you through other people, through conversation.

I came up with a phrase this week. Try it on for size, won’t you? See what you think of this. “God sends angels to send angels.” God sends invisible messengers to send visible messengers. And they look just like you.

Has God been sending you angels and you just haven’t known it? Angels to lift you up, to celebrate with you in your glad times, and to lift you up in your sad times? Has God sent an angel to you lately, a messenger? That’s what angel means.

Oh, friend, I can tell you, there have been so many times when I feel like I’ve hit the bottom. And it’s just at that time that the phone will ring, and it will be someone to send a word of encouragement (I see folks nodding), or you’ll run into someone accidentally, and that person will have just the right word. Have you experienced it? God sends angels to send angels. Maybe you’re living with one, maybe under your very roof.

I know that when I was going through one of the toughest times in my life, and just crushed with grief, not knowing what to do, my phone rang. This was years ago. And who was on the other end of the phone but an art teacher, a great painter that I’ve always wanted to study with! He said, “Hello, Anthony, it’s Morris Katz. How are you?”

I said, “Morris, I haven’t heard from you in years.”

He said, “I know. I was thinking about you. Listen, you want to study some art with me? I’m going to give a class.”

“Yes, I would very much like to get out of the house and study some art with you!” It was a wonderful uplift. It was as though God knew that there was enough suffering. “Come up, lift up.”

Has it happened for you? Have you seen an angel that looks like the other folks in this room? Has God blessed you through another person? My invitation to you is this: See an angel this week, won’t you? Look around you, and even in your hardest times, look around and see who it is who’s blessing you. God is sending an angel your way.

One more thing. See an angel – and be an angel. Could it be that God is tapping you on the shoulder to be His heavenly messenger to somebody? When you shake hands at the beginning of the service, could it be that your eye contact, your visit after the service, could be just the thing that someone needs to keep from going too far? Could it be that that contact is God’s way of blessing someone through you?

God visits people through other people. This week, see an angel and be an angel, and you’ll be walking hand in hand with God. God loves you. I do, too. Have a wonderful week. Amen.