Photo of Emmaus Team to Puerto Rico; seated are E. M. Valverde, Eradio Valverde, Jr., Carlos Alaniz; standing are Ruben Silva, Jerry Saenz, Ezekiel Acevedo, Gabby Garza, David Marroquin, and Paul Adams.
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:13-35)
In 1991, I led a group of ten men to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to help lead their first Walk to Emmaus in Spanish on that island. The retreat was held outside of San Juan in El Yunque, a rain forest retreat center, where iguanas, huge parrots, and other amazing wildlife and plant life set the stage for this amazing weekend. The photo shows part of the team, those sitting are my dad, E. M. Valverde, myself, Carlos Alaniz, then on the back row are from l to r, Ruben Silva, Jerry Saenz, Ezekiel Acevedo, Gabby Garza, David Marroquin, and Paul Adams. Of those in the picture, my father, Mr. Acevedo, and Mr. Adams are deceased. Of those in the picture, I believe I was the first to attend a Walk to Emmaus in 1985, but not without resistance, and after having turned down two prior invitations. Of the men in the picture, Mr. Adams, Mr. Alaniz, Mr. Acevedo, Mr. Silva and Mr. Garza, were from my church, El Mesias UMC in Mission, Texas, and Mr. Adams was the first I was able to convince to attend a Walk. He offered little resistance until he arrived at the camp, and was seen by a team member using the pay phone calling his son-in-law to come and pick him up. The team member remembers hearing Paul say, "I don't know where I am, that's the trouble, but when I figure it out, I'll call you to come get me." He never made that call because the Walk blessed him almost immediately.
The retreat focuses on the title of today's devotional, and is geared to help those who attend to recognize Jesus. It happened to me; I didn't want to go because 1) I was already a pastor, and pastors know everything, right? (wrong!), and 2) a retreat held at Mt. Wesley with its high mountain trails and called a Walk gave me images of a lot of walking and I was not so disposed. But as the event unfolded and surprises of gifts, letters, posters, etc. made me recognize Jesus right at my side, where He had been all along.
The two disciples walking that Seven Mile Journey between Jerusalem and Emmaus, never walked alone; the risen Jesus came along, quizzed and blessed them, but it wasn't until He broke bread with them, they knew who He was. So it happens in our lives. The busyness and noisiness of our world, the worries, distractions, interruptions, all serve to keep our eyes focuses away from Jesus, almost like Peter when he walked on water; as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he was fine, but when he looked away to see the waves, he sank. So it is with us; the waves of despair or doubt, or challenge or worry, family concerns, worries about the future, all can take our eyes off of Jesus. If we stop to worship and celebrate Him in our midst at church or at a retreat or during our personal prayer time, we will see Jesus. And the more we see Jesus, Jesus will be seen in us.
PRAYER: Loving God, may I take time to focus on You and see Jesus right by my side. Let not the worries and challenges of this day take my vision away from the One who helps and guides me. And may it be so, that the more I see Him, He will be seen in me by those who so need. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord; may Jesus be seen in you!
Eradio Valverde
