It is sometimes easy to see Christ in certain everyday moments, especially in those that immediately lift us out of the humdrum of everyday life. Have you ever been caught breathless at the surprise appearance of a bright red cardinal at the bird feeder? Have you ever wept tears of joy, hearing the first belly laugh of an infant? Have you ever felt closer to heaven, gazing at a beautiful watercolor sunrise over a calm, blue lake?
In Luke 24:13–35, the disciples meet the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, but they fail to recognize Him until they are at the table, breaking bread with Him. Meeting the Risen Christ is not an everyday moment for us, but encountering “strangers” definitely is. “Strangers” can be anyone. They can be neighbors, estranged family members, or even people we haven’t seen in a long time. What are some common first inclinations when meeting a “stranger” on the road of daily life? Do we immediately think of the means to support a caring relationship with that stranger? Do we share kindness, a word, a smile, or a simple acknowledgment of their worth as a human being created by God, or do we react based on their interaction (or non-interaction) with us?
Jesus was all about relationships. He was devoted to loving and encouraging the stranger, even those who society had shunned, including lepers, adulterers, tax collectors (as well as imperfect, doubting, and denying disciples).
At the risk of sounding Matthew Kelly-ish, everyday moments are opportunities for us to share as God moments. God doesn’t always send us a burning bush to signal an opportunity, so we must be extra vigilant, staying aware from sunrise to sunset to grab these moments.
I recently seized the opportunity to chat on the phone with a cousin who lives in California, whom I have not seen in several years. Although the distance has made us somewhat “strange,” taking a few minutes to chat with him on the phone helped us reconnect and feel close again. At the time, I did not realize just how precious hearing his voice again would be to me. Three weeks after that chance phone conversation, R.J. suffered a massive heart attack and passed away on Palm Sunday. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and loving cousin, and he will be greatly missed. I will always treasure our last chat as a gift from God—a chance to reconnect with him one last time.
Seeing God in everyday moments definitely takes selfless awareness and vigilance. Daily prayer can include an invitation to the Holy Spirit to work through us, even in simple interactions with others. In addition, we have the Holy Eucharist, food that fuels our recognition of moments as opportunities to see God and share His love with others.
As Jesus was revealed in conversation and a shared meal in Luke’s Gospel, so, too, can we reveal Christ’s love to one another in everyday moments.
“ …he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” (Luke 24:32)
