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On this Third Sunday of Easter A, we read what is often called “The Emmaus Journey” in Luke 24: 13-35). In the story, it is after the Resurrection of Jesus. Two disciples are walking along from Jerusalem to Emmaus talking about Jesus’s death and apparent resurrection. Suddenly, Jesus begins walking with them, but they do not recognize him. They are amazed when he asks them what they were talking about, for Jesus’ death was all that everyone was talking about. So, they told him how Jesus had been killed, and now his body was missing from the grave.
So, Jesus began teaching them about the prophesies of the Old Testament and how everything fit into what they are experiencing now. When evening drew near, they invited Jesus to dine with them. As they were at table, Jesus took bread, broke it, and shared it with them. Then, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus vanished.
What Jesus was doing was something called “Bible Studies.” The purpose of Bible Studies is to answer the question: What did the original authors of the Bible mean by what they wrote? The experts of Bible Studies are called exegetes, people who have devoted their lives to the academic study of the Bible. When we approach the Bible this way, we are looking at it as a window.
When we look at the Bible as a mirror, on the other hand, we are asking the question: How does this speak to me? What does it have to do with my life? This is called “Faith Sharing.” Unlike Bible Studies in which the only experts are exegetes, the experts in “faith sharing” are the persons sharing how the Bible touches their lives.
Both approaches are fine, and both are necessary, but both have radically different purposes. Unless you know that, you will never appreciate the great richness of the Bible and all the treasures it holds.
