Why being disillusioned is a good thing

In his third Easter sermon, Phil Kniss, senior pastor at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, told his listeners that the disciple, on the road to Emmaus, was led from what he thought was clear by Jesus to some disillusionment. Cleopas, on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, had hoped Jesus was the new king of Israel, come to deliver the Jews from the occupying power of Rome. He never considered a Messiah who could establish the kingdom without lifting a sword or forming an army. But, at the breaking of bread, this disillusionment became clear. Likewise today in our popular culture, we want to make Jesus an icon, an image of all that is gentle, loving and nice. Instead, Jesus calls us to visit the prisoner, clothe the naked, sell all that we have and give to the poor. We need to see him again as the living presence of God rather than the iconic benign figure who condones and blesses our selfish living.