We revisit Easter. The Sunday before Pentecost, we hear again the words that put everything into motion. HE IS RISEN! But these men were not there at the tomb. They only heard about the strange, startling and wonderful events. Struggling to grasp the news, they returned to their home - Emmaus - a kind of a "back-wash" kind of a town. Nothing happens there. Quiet! You know the kind of town.

Their teacher, friend, leader, and even perhaps, Messiah, was missing. Dead, they thought, and even expressed it to each other. Puzzled beyond words. Their heads were spinning. They were discouraged. They needed to know if this Jesus that they spent so much time with, was worth their lives. Enter the stranger. He, too, seemed to be going their way. The two men became reporters to this new guest on the road home. Agitated, animated, they summarized their report, "But we were hoping...." Now, who were they to believe? What were they to do? They needed something to lift up their hearts. They were discouraged disciples!

Ever been discouraged? Ever wonder if the Lord cares enough for you to be where you are? He does...but often we miss the signs. He comes to us in the common moments. "And beginning from Moses...He explained ... concerning Himself in all the scriptures."

Imagine the Bible lesson those men received that day. They walked with him for about the distance equal from here to Pottsville. No carriage or horse. Just walking and listening to this stranger, they traveled to their destination. When they arrived, nighttime pressed in, but He acted as though He was going on. When we have been fed in the Word, be sure to keep Him through the night. Wise men. They invited the stranger to stay. Only when Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it, did they recognize him. "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road...explaining the Scriptures to us?" They ran back to the others. They related the whole story, and how He was recognized by them IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD. THEY SAW HIM IN THE COMMON MOMENT!

How did they recognize Him? Our Bible is strangely silent. We wish that we might have been told. Some guesses may be permitted. Perhaps through the quiet but authoritative manner in which the Lord presided as host, instead of being simply the guest of these men? Was the revelation aided by some way He said a phrase only He used? Perhaps certain words over the bread stirred fresh memories of wonderful meals before. Or, did the disciples discover a hand that revealed a wound when He offered the bread to His friends? However it happened, these disciples knew INSTANTLY that this was the Lord! You? Have you seen Him in the common moment? You need Him most right there!

In daily life we too are always meeting God in the common things around us. The sad truth is that we often miss Him. We become good at limiting ourselves to times like this. In formal worship, for one hour or so, we are quite willing to witness to God’s presence in every hymn and prayer. But God wants to speak to us seven days a week. He is still breaks bread and expects us to see!

In the small restraints, necessities, and inconveniences, I believe He wants to hear us say, much like the Apostle Paul, "the Lord is at hand." He is near! Pay attention to what is happening. It is too easy to push our faith and religious practices into a corner and be satisfied. Sadly, many think God works only here in this religious corner of our lives.

I met God in two common moments this past week. What joy I had to be with our Mission to Mexico team. In four and one-half days we built a house for Pastor Ruben and Ilita Mendoza. It was hot. It was hard work. It was rewarding. But of course one could see God in that building. I asked to see the Lord - to surprise me. He did. The first noon meal we had together was in a school playground. I asked God to bless the food, as we gave thanks for His providing. We had our own sandwiches and drinks. But the people of the campo offered us rice and chicken. Common food to us. To them, the chicken equals the best lobster meal you could savor. It is a sacrifice that they offered to us - con amor! I felt His hand in mine as I ate with my brothers and sisters in Christ. The second moment was a ripple effect: Mexican tradition of greeting and then leaving is with handshakes to all and hugs or kisses. I watched as our young people were caught in the greeting and surprised by the moment of "touch." Several hours later, I watched as many in our group made sure that they gave their proper goodbye, but with tenderness of caring to be with these people who love Jesus Christ. It was a great trip. Wednesday at the ice cream event, you’ll see pictures. You will hear them share more than my two small moments. Then, next Sunday, Pentecost, two or three will reveal how God showed Himself to them.

Now...what has He revealed to you? What common events in your life nudged you into seeing the living Lord? It is easy to be discouraged, when we think that our Lord has left us. It is easy to lose our way, because we miss the pointers He gives through people He places in our way. Your child wants to sit on your lap. Your friend across the back fence wants to give you a gift from the flower garden. Where is God trying to get your attention in a common moment?

We need a radical conversion! We live in the middle of an almost thoroughly secular society. There is just one thing wrong with secular things: it leaves God out. But God will not be left out. He continues to communicate His messages and to offer Himself to us in our own common places and spaces. He still takes bread and expects our eyes to be opened. This Lord’s Supper was given to us to lift our hearts, if we are discouraged as His disciples. For when we take the bread and cup here, we might just begin to see Him in all our common ways.

A woman who lived near the Queen of England was interviewed by a gentle woman who loved the Lord. "Does the Queen ever come to visit you?" "Oh yes," the woman replied. "The queen has stopped here two or three times." "And how about the ‘King of kings?’ Does He visit here, too?" "Oh no, He doesn’t visit - He always lives here."

THIS GREAT THIS MOMENT TOGETHER AT HIS TABLE CAN BE AN EXCLAMATION POINT THAT HE IS ALWAYS WITH US - ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMON MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES!