Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, April 27, 2025
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: When we are faced with “now what?” moments, we can embrace the challenge of the journey with its unexpected twists and turns.
Let us at Clergy Stuff be the first to say, “Congratulations!” as you have survived another long Lent and Easter. You’re in the home stretch toward a nice summer break, but as there are still several weeks remaining, you might be asking yourself, “now what?” Sometimes we are so focused on getting through a difficult time, we fail to plan for what’s next.
It seems Jesus’ disciples found themselves in a similar situation. The past couple of weeks had not gone at all as they had planned and they now found themselves floundering. They had decided to move their group to a safer community just outside Jerusalem to gather and regroup. In their grief and confusion, they were unable to recognize a stranger that appeared and joined them in their journey.
They described to the stranger a prophet who had just been put to death; a prophet whom they had believed would redeem Israel, but now did they not see how that was possible, despite the strange story about a message from an angel told to some of Jesus’ most devoted disciples. (How very meta, to tell an unbelievable story about a risen prophet who failed to complete his mission to the very prophet who had arisen and had completed his mission!)
Even amid their questioning, the disciples remained open to the possibility there was more to this story. They listened intently as the stranger put together all the pieces of the puzzle. The more he spoke, the more they wanted to hear, even urging him to remain with them once they reached Emmaus.
Of course, the time had come for Jesus to reveal himself to them, and he did so in the ritual that bound them to the events of the past week—the breaking of bread. In that moment, the puzzle came together and they were able to see clearly what had been hidden from them. They were still left with a “now what?” moment, but with so much more clarity than they had when they were swimming in grief.
Sometimes in our own “now what?” moments, all we can do is keep taking one step in front of the other with an openness to receiving the puzzle pieces one at a time. When the disciples started out toward Emmaus, they may have had a destination in mind, but the journey took them to a completely different place. We often head out with a destination in mind, but rarely do we arrive in the same condition as when we left. Life often throws obstacles and sometimes shortcuts; we receive more or less than we intended; and we encounter strangers we didn’t anticipate along the way. It’s what makes the journey itself so fulfilling— not that we have all the answers and know where we’re going, but precisely that we don’t. Bigger pictures will reveal themselves in time, and we will have a very different direction for our “now what?” journey.
Is there a “now what?” moment coming your congregation’s way? Talk about the journey, the twists and turns, the unexpected visitors, and encourage your congregation just to start with the first step.
