Listen

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.

Luke 24:25-27

Think

Oftentimes I am one of those foolish people whose dull mind keeps me from believing what should be obvious. Sometimes I have a hard time hearing good news from unlikely sources. Sometimes I’m so busy scouring a story’s details, I completely miss its larger meaning. Most of the time I simply haven’t been paying attention.

While it’s understandable given their grief, it’s too bad that Cleopas and his friend don’t believe the witness of the women. It takes a complete stranger (who they don’t yet know is Jesus) to call them out on this — to remind them of what they should have already known.

Similarly, it takes a stay-at-home order to remind me how important community is. It takes a viral pandemic to remind me how crucial it is to care for the vulnerable. It takes a few days of home-schooling to remind us all what an essential role our teachers play.

Jesus comes to us in many different ways; at times, he even plays the role of Captain Obvious. Sometimes, that’s just what we need.

Peter Hanson

Pray

Open my eyes, Lord, to see you on the road. Open my mind, Lord, to help me believe what you’ve been saying all along. Open my mouth, Lord, to share with others the surprisingly obvious ways you are with us. Amen.

Go

God calls you to venture where you cannot see the end, by paths never yet taken, through perils unknown;

Go with good courage, not knowing where you go, but only that God’s hand is leading you and God’s love is supporting you.