If we are going to take our faith seriously, we are going to be called to do some strenuous up-stream swimming. That is, we are going to face situations in which the convictions of our faith will place us in opposing positions to the messages of our culture.
Luke begins by naming emperors, governors, priests. They are in charge. But God chooses not to come to the rich and famous, the important and highly-placed. God comes to a simple man named John.
Two travelers. Friends? Brothers? Husband and wife? We have no idea. Just Cleopas and whomever. Perhaps the reason one remains unidentified is to allow us to insert our own name into the story. Cleopas and David--or Cleopas and Debbie--or Connie or Jim.
Luke tells us who God's Word comes to--and who it doesn't come to. It comes to John the Baptist, a plain-spoken man in the wilderness--not to the governors or high priests.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi… Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In Latin or in English, the words are exquisite. And the concept they capture is far, far beyond that. It is the very kernel of Christianity.
When Luke talks about wilderness, he’s talking about an area that is rocky, barren, dry, blazing hot during the day, and frigid cold at night. Almost nothing—not even cactus—grows there. What little water exists there is mostly alkaline—deadly to drink.
Jesus faces the temptation to control, command, and dominate by depending upon God alone who speaks through scripture. God, with the power to create the heavens and the earth, gives to Jesus the power to lay power aside, to become powerful, paradoxically, in weakness.
Several things are striking about this story. One is how incredibly NORMAL these two disciples are. Their reaction to the story of Jesus' death and resurrection is about what one might expect from any of us - disappointment, grief, disbelief. These were not gullible morons - they were normal folks.
How would the tempter address us? He would approach us at the level of our greatest desire. What do you consider your most important role? "If you are a good mother, you would do this..." "If you are truly my friend, you would do that..."
God calls out to us in the beauty of a sunset, the ugliness of burnt out buildings inhabited for forsaken people, the starved child, the radiant parent, and the selfless teacher who inspires others with hope. God is constantly calling to us in many different guises, saying “Recognize me."