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door weighed down by cynicism, stress, pretense, power. They are sophisticated lawyers
and skeptical scientists and shell-shocked journalists -- skilled practitioners in the
seductions of the world, but nervous novices in the realm of the Spirit. They, like the first
disciples, yearn for the living presence of God. But they are too preoccupied, suspicious, too
busy to actually recognize God. In their objective world of fact and truth and matter and
money, the church's world of mystery and meaning and risk and relationship seems silly.
And so they are eager to discuss and debate the idea of God, but unprepared to experience
or recognize the presence of God. They do not yet realize that it will only be through
pounding hearts and burning hearts that they will come to believe -- that they will come to
recognize Jesus.” And so it is for these two weary travelers; they only recognize Jesus when
they are ready and able. They recognize him through the word of scripture and the celebration at
table.
In this event, I am reminded of the poem “Thy Brother” by Theodore Chickering
Williams:
When thy heart, with joy o’erflowing
Sings a thankful prayer,
In thy joy, O let thy brother
With thee share.
When the harvest-sheaves ingathered
Fill thy barns with store,
To thy God and to thy brother
Give thee more.
If thy soul, with power uplifted,
Yearn for glorious deed,
Give thy strength to serve thy brother
In his need.
Hast thou bourne a secret sorrow
In thy lonely breast?
Take to thee thy sorrowing brother
For a guest.
Share with him thy bread of blessing,
Sorrow’s burden share;
When thy heart enfolds a brother,
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