I.D. Please!

When you leave the house everyday what forms of identification do you take with you? Or maybe a better question is: how is it that people recognize you? Is it by your driver's license or passport? Does it happen by a retinal scan, voice recognition, or fingerprinting? Can someone you've never met know you by the way you sign your name? Well, I remember in high school watching a television program about signatures and what they tell us about who we are. This show was on ESPN, so primarily the Graphologist (that is someone who studies handwriting) used the large swooshes and little zig-zags of professional athletes to demonstrate what one's "John Hancock" says about who one truly is. In a distinctly nerdy way, the graphologist traced every curve of a certain wide receiver's signature. The scribbles shot out demonstratively in all directions and yet somehow pointed back upon the illegible name. The professor of handwriting explained that this signified the athlete's self-centered nature, perceived self-importance, and over-sized ego. As I remember this TV show, and when I think about photo IDs, fingerprints, and eyeball scans, I wonder how much can be determined about who we are by any of these identification methods. So if none of these ways work, how do we identify to others who we are? How do we signify our true identity?

In today's Gospel the Risen Lord himself has a difficult time being identified by his followers. Maybe he did not want to be known, but for most of Luke's story Cleopus and his friend have no idea that they are talking with the risen Christ. Part of me has a hard time believing this, but I have never encountered a person who has recently been resurrected from the dead. So after the disciples have revealed to Jesus that the women have seen the empty tomb, he says 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?" Surely at this point the disciples will see who is speaking with them, but no. Then from the ancient prophets, Jesus opens up the scriptures to reveal himself within them. Perhaps it was the hot sun beating down upon the road to Emmaus, or maybe it was just the shock and grief over losing Jesus three days earlier, but Christ's teaching goes in one ear and out the other. "Hello? McFly? Is anyone in there?" might be our response. Yet what we later find out is that it resonates in their hearts. Still these two disciples are unable to ID Jesus. It's as if he is standing with his Passport, which reads "Kingdom of God" on it, but Cleopus and his friend are staring in the other direction. However, something within their heart pushes the disciples to invite this mysterious teacher to stay with them.

As Jesus comes to the Table with Cleopus and his friend, he takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. In this moment Jesus' true identity is revealed. By doing what was done only three days earlier at the last supper, his friends recognize Jesus as the Christ. Taking, blessing, breaking, and giving gives away Jesus. In the Resurrection Jesus looks different, so when he comes back his actions, not his appearance, give him away. When he is together with these friends at the Table there is no mistaking who is there and what is happening, but in that instant of recognition Jesus vanishes from their sight. Poof! He's gone! As they recount the events of the journey the disciples' hearts burn. They knew Jesus' identity all along, but not in their minds.

While it was not stooping down to write his signature, in John’s gospel, Jesus bends down to write in the sand. I wonder what a graphologist would tell us about Christ’s handwriting. Was it simple and plain, mysterious and complicated, sophisticated and beautiful? Does it tell us who Christ is? Regardless of what it looked like, we probably would not know Christ by his signature. However, we know Christ in the breaking of the bread. When we come to this Table together we know the identity of our Lord. Maybe we catch a glimpse of Christ at the rail, or we see him in the eyes of the Eucharistic Minister, or when we hold the bread in our hands we might see God Incarnate, but in that moment of recognition Jesus vanishes from our sight.

So we come back week in and week out looking for Jesus here, but maybe we come looking for something else too. I think when we come to eat with Christ at the Table we also get a glimpse of our true identity. That is to say that when we kneel or stand right here at the Table we find not so much who we are, but whose we are AND who dwells with us in this community. Not our signatures, nor our identification cards, and not even our fingerprints truly tell us who we are. It is instead gathering to hear God’s word, to receive God’s healing, and to share in God’s Supper that we truly find ourselves. He is made known to us in the breaking of the bread and that is where we become known to ourselves.