The photo shown in this slide is of a painting by Rodriguez de Silva y Velasques, entitled The Moorish Maidservant. It focuses on the servant girl in the room: preparing the meal, serving the meal, cleaning up after the meal – at the time when the two disciples offer supper and lodging to a man they have been talking to as they walked toward their home in Emmaus. They did not know the man was the resurrected Jesus. The girl and her perspective remind us that there are those who serve quietly and profoundly in our presence, unnoticed by us who partake of their service. They may be less well off than we; they may even be “invisible” to us, and yet they are equally important and equally loved and equally affected by the living Christ in our midst.

What I share with you now are words totally from my own humble imagination. Consider the painting as music. I have taken on the task of putting words to that music.

The servant girl listens and watches from the corner of her eye, to the conversations in the room. She is there when Jesus suddenly disappears from their midst. Listen in to one who observes, from the edges of awareness …

VOICE:

What is it of which they speak? I cannot hear them well. Wait, now they raise their voices…

Who is this man with such fervor in his voice?
He recounts “the prophets” the other two say –
I’ve heard of prophets before. They say they are ones who tell the future.
My mother has made me memorize from one of them.
Jere – Jere-miah…he is called:
“On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will break the yoke from off his neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him.”
I too, shall not be a servant all my life… so my mother says.
But, listen – of what do they speak now? … I prepare the meal and set the table for them… I must keep busy if I am to stay and listen longer..
This man they bring with them … have I seen him before?
He looks familiar, and yet – I do not recognize him.
He seems … somehow different…yet, he looks familiar, too…
I wonder, will he eat much? This food we have may not be enough for him.
But, what do they say now?...
A new cover … cover-net. What is a cover-net? …
Wait, no! -- COV-enant… of course... They say:
“The days are surely coming…when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah”… and now:
… “says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their … hearts; and I will be …. their God and …they shall be my people…”
Does that mean me, also?
Shall I, a servant and a girl, not even born a Jew, also be God’s people?
Mother teaches me that to belong to the Lord is the best thing in the world, but me, I would settle for my own dreadle …
What now? …
“…I will write my law on their hearts,
and I will be …their God and …they shall be my people.”
I cannot listen longer. I am weary of straining for words I do not understand.
Oh! They move toward the table. I must fetch the wine! …
There! Now, I can move back again.
I can wait and watch. I can listen, and ..not… miss… anything,
because they need me to be here to serve them …
Now, look how he breaks the bread.
As if it were -- a sacrifice. Look – he holds it before him, and speaks.
Wait: what is that light coming from him? His eyes shine …
And now he passes the bread among them.
Oh how I wish I could have some, too. Why must I always be outside the circle when those who eat, gather at the table?
What? Has he?... What ? …
He offers me the bread? It is as if he heard my thoughts …
“Most gracious, sir” … “I thank you.” …
The bread; it is good.
Oh dear, I have allowed my eyes to meet his. My mother must not know. I am to keep my place, she tells me. She would not like it if she knew I looked right at him…But… he smiled at me!
What kindness … he is different, this man. I think I have seen him before…but…What?
Now he pours the wine – and passes it to them.
AND TO ME!...
They are stunned at his action. But they dare not speak!
He has passed me a cup, as well!
Oh, I tremble … yet, I drink. I am refreshed.
Thank you, gracious sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank …
What? Wait --- Where did he go?
Has he gone so soon? Look! They, too, seem surprised!
They speak – They knew him, they say. He was … He was Jesus of Nazareth? Is that the name they give him?
But Jesus of Nazareth – that Jesus -- isn’t that the one they took to Golgotha just the other day? The one they crucified?!
Ashrei yoshvei veitecha, od y’hal’lucha selah.
Ashrei haam
she’ka’cha lo, ashrei haam sheAdonai
Elohav.

They speak in hushed tones… They are gone! And so am I…
I must tell my mother of this. I must tell my mother of this Jesus of Nazareth who was here, and who vanished before my eyes.
Momma – Oh I hope she does not punish me; I do not lie, Momma, I tell the truth! … I saw him! The man they crucified. I saw him, Momma.
He lives! Rev. Sharon James Fazel, April 26, 2008

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