Because, of course it was!

 

Luke 24:13-35

 “When He was at table with them, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him… He had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

 All of the Tanakh, the Law and Prophets Jesus interpreted to them regarding how they related to His life, ministry, death and resurrection.  All of the scriptures He fulfilled in Himself.  But it was in the act of blessing and breaking of bread that opened their eyes and in which they recognized Him.  Blessing and breaking bread, the stuff of life, was an intimate act of sharing.  It was not just about eating.  It was about community, sharing and connection.  Bread, the stuff of life was scarce, and sharing was how many people got through day to day.  The bread was blessed because everyone knew it was a gift from God.  Breaking it meant sharing it. 

 All of the astounding events of which they were speaking did not help them recognize Jesus. 

His fulfillment of Law and Prophets in those astounding events did not help them recognize Jesus.

His admonishment over their being slow of heart did not help them recognize Jesus.

It was in the intimate act of blessing and breaking bread, the sharing between them and God and God with them that jarred their memories, opened their eyes and made the connection for them with Jesus.  That is because at the heart of Jesus’ Good news is connection – the connection between God and humanity and the connection of humanity with humanity.  That connection is built on sharing and intimate love.  Of course, they would recognize Jesus in this act of connection and sharing – that is what Jesus taught, commanded and lived among them.

 Is this not how we who are connected to Jesus should make Him known in the world?  Should we not be making Jesus known in the intimate connection of love which is sharing?  Is it not in sharing sustenance with a hungry world?  Is it not in the sharing of connection in a divided world?  Is it not in the sharing of intimacy in a distancing world?  Empire withholds, divides and distances one from another.  The Kingdom of God shares, connects in community and draws us closer to one another in agaph.

 It is only through the living of these Kingdom values that empire will fall.  It is only in living that love of Jesus that people will be able to endure the oppression, marginalization, exploitation and disenfranchisement of empire in the world.  It is only in resisting empire’s way through the living of Jesus’ Way that we may repair the world from the harm done by empire.  And it all starts with simplicity – the blessing and breaking of bread, acknowledging God and one another, drawing people together and sharing what is most needed – sustenance and intimacy in community. 

 That is what the astounding events all mean, the fulfillment of Law and Prophets, the Good News of Jesus in agaph. It means we are connected with God and one another in love to live.  It means Shalom for all people, here and now, in this part of God’s Kingdom.