Who will we invite to stay with us this night?
From Luke 24 . . .
8 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
The text comes from the story of what is called "The Walk to Emmaus" where following the crucifixion of Jesus, two disciples were joined by a stranger as they walked to a nearby town. They didn't recognize it was Jesus until sharing a meal later that evening. As they approached the town, they urged their fellow traveler, with whom they had fallen into deep conversation, "stay with us." He stays and their evening meal becomes one for the history books as they say.
The Italian painter Caravaggio was so intrigued by this story of the meal after the walk that he did two paintings of the same subject, in 1601 and 1606 "Supper at Emmaus." When Jesus blesses the bread, the eyes of the disciples are opened and they recognize that it is the Lord. At that moment of recognition Jesus disappears. Good move Jesus! Let them (and us) ponder what has just happened. I love their conversation after Jesus vanishes . . .
A good practice at evening is to clear the slate for the day and ask the Lord, with opened eyes, in both a physical and a spiritual sense "Stay with us, for it is evening, and the day is now far spent."
Peace to all this evening.
~ ~ ~
MUSIC LINKS
Abendlied - Stay with Us, Rheinberger, Sung by the Cambridge Singers
Stay with US - by Egil Hovland, Sung by the National Lutheran Choir
From Luke 24 . . .
8 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
Stay with usSet here is an exquisite a capella choral setting by Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901), Abendlied (Evening Song), Op. 69.
For it is evening
And the day is now far spent.
Bleib bei uns
Denn es will Abend werden
Und der Tag hat sich geneiget
The text comes from the story of what is called "The Walk to Emmaus" where following the crucifixion of Jesus, two disciples were joined by a stranger as they walked to a nearby town. They didn't recognize it was Jesus until sharing a meal later that evening. As they approached the town, they urged their fellow traveler, with whom they had fallen into deep conversation, "stay with us." He stays and their evening meal becomes one for the history books as they say.
The Italian painter Caravaggio was so intrigued by this story of the meal after the walk that he did two paintings of the same subject, in 1601 and 1606 "Supper at Emmaus." When Jesus blesses the bread, the eyes of the disciples are opened and they recognize that it is the Lord. At that moment of recognition Jesus disappears. Good move Jesus! Let them (and us) ponder what has just happened. I love their conversation after Jesus vanishes . . .
Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?This scene is ours every evening too. We come to the the end of the day and Jesus was and is with us, loving us and teaching us all along the way. I find I have too often been blind to his presence during the day, or at least not paying attention to it. You too?
A good practice at evening is to clear the slate for the day and ask the Lord, with opened eyes, in both a physical and a spiritual sense "Stay with us, for it is evening, and the day is now far spent."
Peace to all this evening.
~ ~ ~
MUSIC LINKS
Abendlied - Stay with Us, Rheinberger, Sung by the Cambridge Singers
Stay with US - by Egil Hovland, Sung by the National Lutheran Choir
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