It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life\u2014calls, emails, texts, deadlines. We can become so focused on what\u2019s next that we miss the moments happening right in front of us. <\/span>Amid the busyness of life, we often miss the sacred moments unfolding in front of us.<\/b><\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a new thing. The truth is, we\u2019re not the only ones who miss these moments. In fact, Jesus\u2019 own disciples did this too.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at <\/span>Luke 24:13-16<\/b>. Here we see two disciples walking along a road, distracted by their own emotions and thoughts:<\/span><\/p>\n 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.<\/b><\/p>\n These disciples are going about their normal lives, consumed by their conversations about the recent events of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion and resurrection. They\u2019re focused on reaching their destination, distracted by the exhaustion, confusion, and disappointment they feel\u2014emotions that many of us can relate to. And yet, in the middle of their journey, <\/span>Jesus comes alongside them<\/b>\u2014but they don\u2019t recognize Him. This \u201ckept from recognizing Him\u201d suggests some sort of supernatural blindness, but it\u2019s also a clear reminder for us: <\/span>Do we recognize Jesus when He\u2019s right beside us?<\/b><\/p>\n As the story continues, we see that their eyes are opened in a simple yet profound moment:<\/span><\/p>\n 28 As they approached the village, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him, \u201cStay with us, for it is nearly evening.\u201d So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.<\/b><\/p>\n What opened their eyes? <\/span>A simple ritual: breaking bread<\/b>\u2014something they had experienced with Jesus countless times. It wasn\u2019t a grand gesture or a dramatic revelation. It was through a humble, everyday practice of eating together that they recognized Him.<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus still works the same way today.<\/b> The ordinary moments we take for granted\u2014whether it\u2019s eating a meal, having a conversation, or folding laundry\u2014can become opportunities to encounter Him, if we\u2019re paying attention. We often think that God only speaks to us in church or through a pastor, but God is so much bigger than that. He is present in the everyday, waiting for us to recognize Him in the simplest of moments.<\/span><\/p>\n In <\/span>John 15:5<\/b>, Jesus reminds us of the importance of staying connected to Him in everything we do:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Remaining in Jesus doesn\u2019t just happen in moments of prayer or worship, but in every part of our day. Whether it\u2019s driving the kids to school, paying the bills, or attending meetings at work\u2014if we stay mindful of His presence, we begin to see His work in the most ordinary of tasks. When we live with this awareness, even the smallest moments take on new meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the ways we encounter Jesus is through <\/span>communion<\/b>. This practice is more than just a ritual\u2014it\u2019s a way to tune our hearts to His presence. I love this quote from Tish Harrison Warren in her book <\/span>Liturgy of the Ordinary<\/span><\/i>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf all the things He could\u2019ve chosen to be done <\/span>in remembrance<\/span><\/i> of Him, Jesus chose a meal. He could\u2019ve asked His followers to do something impressive or mystical\u2014climb a mountain, fast for forty days, or have a trippy sweat lodge ceremony\u2014but instead, He picks the most ordinary of acts, eating, through which to be present to His people. He says that the bread is His body and the wine is His blood. He chooses the unremarkable and plain, average and abundant, bread and wine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Isn\u2019t that just like God\u2019s plan? To choose the ordinary and unremarkable to accomplish His purposes. <\/span>Jesus doesn\u2019t need the extraordinary to show up and walk beside us. He <\/b>is<\/i><\/b> the extraordinary. <\/b>And if we could only recognize Him in these ordinary moments, how much more would we see His work in our lives and give Him glory?<\/span><\/p>\n Discussion Questions: <\/b> [vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":117543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[293],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-117542","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-what-happens-now-series-2025"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Road to Emmaus<\/b><\/h3>\n
Jesus in the Ordinary<\/b><\/h3>\n
Encountering Jesus Through Communion<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n<\/span>1. How can everyday acts like eating, working, or taking care of our families become opportunities to encounter Jesus? What are some examples from your own life where you\u2019ve found God in the midst of the everyday?<\/span><\/p>\n\n