Today's Gospel lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark, was Luke 24:36b-48. That comes right after the Emmaus story, which we heard last year, in Year A, the year of Matthew. Pastor Koch pointed out today that today's reading is really a continuation of the Emmaus story. Verse 36 starts out "While they were talking about this" (referring to the encounter with Jesus which Cleopas and friend described to the disciples) but the lectionary omits that and starts with "Jesus himself stood among them."
Yet to fully appreciate this story you need the context of the Emmaus passage. Just as in the case of Cleopas and companion (probably Mrs. Cleopas), where "their eyes were opened, and they recognized him," so Jesus "opened [the disciples'] minds to understand the scriptures."
It's a marvelous story of God being present with us and revealing God's self to us.
Here's my Emmaus blogs from 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
My first husband (a college chaplain) and I performed Cleopas and Mrs. Cleopas before communion the Sunday after Easter one year. We had a really good script and enjoyed that interpretation of the story. ~ blessings
Posted by: Tahoe Mom | April 26, 2009 at 07:19 PM