{"id":12376,"date":"2026-04-14T11:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/socialjesus\/?p=12376"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:37:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:37:02","slug":"when-things-dont-turn-out-way-we-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/socialjesus\/2026\/04\/when-things-dont-turn-out-way-we-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"What Emmaus Teaches About Hope, Disappointment and Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"What
Photo Credit: Francesco Gallarotti<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our reading this week is from the gospel of Luke.<\/p>\n

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, \u201cWhat are you discussing with each other while you walk along?\u201d They stood still, looking sad.\u00a0 <\/span>Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, \u201cAre you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?\u201d He asked them, \u201cWhat things?\u201d They replied, \u201cThe 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.\u201d Then he said to them, \u201cOh, 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?\u201d Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.<\/p>\n

Welcome Readers! <\/i><\/b>Please subscribe to Social Jesus Here<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

This is Part 1 of the series The Road We Walk When Our Hopes Have Been Deeply Disappointed<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

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, \u201cStay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.\u201d 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, \u201cWere not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?\u201d That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, \u201cThe Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!\u201d 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)<\/p>\n

Our story this week is the walk to Emmaus found in in Luke 24:13\u201335. At its core, this is a story about disorientation, companionship, and the slow, often unrecognized emergence of hope. Two disciples leave Jerusalem in the aftermath of Jesus\u2019 state execution, carrying with them shattered expectations of being part of movement for change that the empire has, once again, crushed. \u201cWe had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.\u201d Their words echo the grief familiar to anyone engaged in justice work today who has faced disappointing outcomes for their movement and labor: moments when movements falter, when violence prevails, when the arc of history itself seems to bend away from justice rather than toward it.<\/p>\n

This passage speaks powerfully into our lived experience in justice work when we are tempted to give in to despair. We\u2019ll pick up here, in Part 2<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Begin each day being inspired toward love, compassion, justice and action. Free.<\/p>\n

Sign up at HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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