Finding what is good and real
“It is true!”
Luke 24:34
I was praying with the Road to Emmaus scripture the other day (Luke 24:13-35). As I placed myself on the road in my imagination, the verse “It is True!” moved me and hasn’t left me.
Pilgrim Trail to Emmaus, Abu Ghosh to Emmaus Nicopolis
What is Truth?
I’ve been thinking about truth a lot lately. I’ve noticed that I’m becoming increasingly cynical about the things I read and hear. Is it fake or real news? More than ever, I find myself checking out the sources - is it a legitimate domain? are quotes from credible people? Getting to the truth needs more than a headline and takes some fact-checking. Still, it feels like truth has become a matter of opinion. Is my truth, the truth? Then, what of your truth? What is truth? (John 18:38).
We’re all in search of truth
In the midst of all these ponderings, I keep going back to the verse, “It is true!” These two companions had an experience of truth. And when they did, that truth set them on fire. They went from confused and downtrodden to clear and joyful. There’s a lot we can learn about our search for truth from this scripture.
The Road to Emmaus
“It is true!” - Luke 24:34
Truth comes at threshold moments
It seems that getting to the truth takes time - it’s a journey, and it seems to come when we’re looking for new answers - when things don’t go as expected or planned and our lives get out of sorts. We lose our footing and we find ourselves exposed, confused, and vulnerable. We can look to the pandemic and how it’s turned our lives upside to get a sense for how the companions in this scripture may have felt. Upheaval and despair, with only questions and no clear answers.
Where to look for truth
But in our vulnerabilities, when we have nothing left to lean on, and the limits of our neatly organized lives crack open - only then can something new or something we’ve forgotten fill the cracks. This was the case with the two companions. So how did Jesus choose to fill their cracks? Scripture, which always points to him. The something new and something forgotten was right before them all along. The scripture awakens their hearts and stirs their conscience - something in these words ring true and they cling to it, “please stay with us,” they say. The scriptures point to Jesus, but it’s not until they break bread together that they recognized Jesus. “Were our hearts not burning within us?” (Luke 24:32). Their conscience awakens to the truth before them. “It is True, The Lord has risen” (Luke 24:34). Truth is a Person.
And we meet that person in scripture and the teachings of the church as we walk, talk, and break bread together.
And that person is patient and walks with us until we get it.
Does truth matter?
Well, let’s see, does it? As soon as the companions see the Truth, Jesus disappears. It’s like Jesus is saying, “Good, they got it, my work here is done, now it’s up to them. I trust them.” They are free to choose what to do with it. We are free to choose - so truth matters. If most of our understanding of truth comes from Netflix and CNN, and not from scripture and church teaching, we fall into a deficit of truth. Truth doesn’t change, but our exposure to it can, and as truth becomes less familiar, it can takes longer to see, and even harder to choose. Yet, God trusts us with this truth - to learn it, live it, share it, and die into it.
When the two companions experience truth, their conscience recognizes it and it moves them toward God - to what is good and real. And that’s when everything changes - their energy, their purpose, and destination. They just walked 7 miles in the desert heat, and yet, without hesitation they turn back to tell their friends “it is true!” We can trust truth to bring us home. And it’s their joy and excitement that gives them this new energy and purpose. Who doesn’t want that? We’re all looking to live meaningful and joyful lives. We all want was is good and real and the Truth that is Jesus is ours too.
The power of truth
Jesus’ trust fills the companions with an indelible mark that leaves an unshakeable Knowing that they have encountered the truth. This truth strengthens their faith, hope, and love. Truth has power - it’s an energy that moves us to new life and meaning.
Truth speaks to the heart where the conscience, that knows what is good and real, lives.
Truth shakes us out of our old talk tracks and patterns and opens up new possibilities.
Truth demands a response, it draws us out of ourselves towards another.
Truth sets us free and unburdens us of our confusion and self doubt.
Truth is found in scripture and the treasure of church teachings - both point to Truth as the Person, Jesus Christ.
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