From the Heart, Easter 3, April 30, 2017

Third Week of Easter (Year A)

Sunday, April 30, 2017

 

Christ is present, here, now. God, in love, is bodily present with you. Look around you. Look within you. Look slowly, and carefully. Let your prayer be a deepening, widening awareness. The Beloved will appear in forms you do not expect. Remember Jacob and his dream, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus: it is often only afterward that we realize that God has been present in ways we did not know. Christ doesn't always look like Jesus. God doesn't always look like God. The best we can do is to continually open the eyes of our hearts to the indwelling, surrounding, unseen presence of the Loving One.

– Steve Garnaas

Theme: From the Heart

Reflection:  Disappointments. Everyone has them.

Some fall into the commonplace:

• I couldn’t attend a concert because I had to work
• The speaker missed a connection, so the workshop was cancelled.
• We couldn’t afford to take the vacation we planned this summer.
• I wasn’t called for an interview for that job.
• I lost my cell phone.

Others are life-changing:

• The civil war in my country caused us to become refugees.
• I wasn’t able to attend seminary.
• We couldn’t have children.
• After my accident, I couldn’t become a concert pianist.
• We lost the family farm due to foreclosure.

It was one of those major disappointments that Cleopas and another disciple were discussing on the road to Emmaus. Jesus, teacher and prophet, had been crucified. The disciples had scattered. Cut to the heart, they knew it was time to go home and get on with life.
 

As they were engrossed in their conversation, a man overtook them on the road. Or he must have – they were so busy talking they hadn’t noticed him. He overheard their conversation and asked why they were so saddened.

Maybe expecting him to be another pilgrim returning from Jerusalem for the Passover, they readily engaged him in the conversation. Of course, you must know what just happened to Jesus of Nazareth. They crucified him. “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”

And they went on with the speculations from the women and other disciples about the empty tomb and Jesus risen. Yes, he seemed to know the happenings of the last few days. But he listened to their disappointment and then began teaching them about all the prophecies leading up to the Messiah’s death and resurrection. They were so caught up in the lesson that they didn’t want to stop when the road branched one way to their home, and another way that this man looked like he wanted to take. 

Their despair had started to lift just listening to his words. Their hearts had that fire again, the fire they had when the Teacher was with them. And they didn’t want to lose it.

It’s late, they said. Please stay with us tonight. And he agreed.

When they reached their home, they washed the road dust from their feet and pulled together some meager provisions for dinner. They hadn’t been home for a while. Their guest relaxed and continued their conversation – something about him reclining there looked familiar. This stranger was a good listener and he knew his scripture. They set out bread, a little meat and some figs, and poured the wine. Showing hospitality, they offered their guest the chance to bless the meal. 

He lifted the bread, gave thanks to God, “my Abba,” blessed it and broke it. Just as the two of them had seen Jesus do dozens of times. Jesus!! 

Their eyes met in an instant of recognition, then they looked over at Jesus. But the bread lay on the plate in front of the empty seat.  

Another glance to each other, and they jumped up to look outside. No one. No tracks in the dust, no sandals on the doorstep. But he was here! They left the meal behind as they swiftly covered the seven miles back to Jerusalem and entered the Upper Room breathless, just as the disciples were ready to sit down to eat together … just before Jesus entered the room, through the locked door.

*  *  *

Isn’t the walk to Emmaus the pattern of life itself? Parents, don’t you meet your children where they are, teach them, nurture and nourish them, and then step back out of their lives? Teachers, isn’t it just the same for you as you connect with your students on their educational journeys, instruct them, make sure they have everything they need to thrive, and then let them go to another grade or to college or into the world? 

And isn’t this exactly how we worship: we gather where Christ meets us, read the scriptures and have them interpreted to us, join in our meal where we recognize Christ present, and go in peace to love and serve the Lord? 

Except Christ never really disappears from us, but continues with us on our journeys. Spirit breathed into us like the new believers in Acts. Close enough to hear us, says the Psalmist. Present in our actions when we love one another from the heart, says the writer of 1st Peter. 

We travel on, accompanied by the living and enduring word of God. 

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.) 

Faith App:  Come alongside someone with the love of Christ. Be present to a co-worker who is struggling, call a friend or family member who is dealing with a negative situation or is under great stress. Help a child with homework or a difficult chore. 

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Day of Arising, ELW 374

Abide with Me, ELW 629

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, ELW 325

Break Now the Bread of Life, ELW 515

The Risen Christ, ELW 390

Stay with Us, WOV 743

Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen, ELW 377

O Jesus, I Have Promised, ELW 810

Thine is the Glory, ELW 376

That Easter Day with Joy was Bright, ELW 384

Help Me Find It, Sidewalk Prophets

Open Our Eyes (We Want to See Jesus), Robert Cull
Abide with Me, Matt Maher

Here With Me, MercyMe

Have You Seen Jesus My Lord, John Fischer

Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing), Phillips, Craig and Dean

Open the Eyes of My Heart, SonicFlood

Shoulders, For King & Country 

LESSONS

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 The promise is for you … everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.

Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

1 Peter 1:17-23 Love one another deeply from the heart.

Luke 24:13-35 “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?”

Summary of the Lessons:  We are moved by the Christ in us. Something deeper than our eyes perceives Christ from the beginning of time, and resonates with the Resurrection – our hearts burning, the Spirit breathing in us, our purified souls reverberating. Then in the teaching of the word, the breaking of the bread, Jesus is present once more.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

L:  Christ Is Risen!
C:  Christ Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! 

L:  I am embraced by God who loves me and hears me,

C:  Listens to me when I’m struggling, knows when I’m lost;

L:  Pulled down by darkness and death, I cry out --  

C:  And my Lord reaches into the pit and rescues me.

L:  Nothing I offer the Lord would be thanks enough –

C:  Tell everyone about God’s forgiveness, freely given,

L:  Raise the chalice of new life to the Lover of my soul,

C:  Keep my promises to reveal Jesus’ love with my life.

L:  No, you ask no payment, so I can serve you joyfully,

C:  And honor my vow to stay faithful to you alone,

L:  Lay my gifts of thanks and praise upon your altar,

C:  And lift my worship in the Lord’s house. Hallelujah!

CONFESSION

L:  Today, two disciples meet the risen Christ on the road,

C:  We too have felt the warmth of Christ’s presence,

L:  When words of understanding bridge an angry silence;

C:  When forgiveness freely spoken heals a cut to the heart.

L:  The grief of “what might have been” blinded their eyes,

C:  The terror of “what comes next” shut down their minds.

L:  We have dwelled there when we’re blindsided by loss,

C:  When a fork in life’s road leaves us uncertain or alone.

L:  They invited the stranger into their home for the night,

C:  Shared a meal and saw Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

L:  We have had our eyes opened when we’ve shared a table,
C:  When we truly hear another, or serve in our Lord's name.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … we pray today that you attune our hearts to your presence in the world around us. Our eyes and our thoughts can convince us you have deserted us, but our hearts burn to trust and follow you.  For only when we allow you to lead the way will we begin to love one another deeply from the heart as you do.  

Hear this Good News:  You have been born anew, not through anything of this world, which is perishable, but of the imperishable living and enduring word of God. Trust in this, that you are forgiven and freed from anything that would keep you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

In the name of… 

Amen. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Faithful God … Open our eyes and our minds to Christ with us as we continue walking on our road beyond the cross. Keep our hearts burning for your presence here among us in the teaching of the word, and in the breaking of the bread. Allow us to see you coming alongside of us in our struggles and our joys.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for revealing yourself in the breaking of this bread, warming our hearts in the sharing of this cup.  Send us down the roads we travel this week, filled with joy and amazement at the risen Christ, made known to us and living through us. Amen. 

SENDING 

L:  Minds challenged by the word revealed,

C:  Eyes opened in the breaking of the bread;

L:  Spirits filled by worship and life together,

C:  Christ risen and present in the Church today.

L:  Go now, eyes wide open, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The Apostle Peter concludes last week’s sermon to the Jewish people who have returned to Jerusalem and have witnessed the Holy Spirit stirring things up at Pentecost.

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

³⁶ Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  ³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  ³⁹ For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”  ⁴⁰ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  ⁴¹ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.  

Second Reading 1 Peter 1:17-23 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: 1 Peter was a letter written to churches that had formed from exiled Jews and gentiles. Members of the church would know what it is to be an outcast, persecuted for their faith. These words of inclusion and Christian community would have heartened them.

¹⁷ If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.  ¹⁸ You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,  ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.  ²⁰ He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.  ²¹ Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

²² Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.  ²³ You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Gospel Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The encounter on the road to Emmaus is unique to Luke’s gospel. The location and names aren’t perfectly clear. Meals, however, are intensely personal relationship and teaching times for Luke.

¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,  ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.  ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”  ¹⁹ He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,  ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.  ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,  ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.  ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”  ²⁵ Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!  ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”  ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

²⁸ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.  ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.  ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.  ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”  ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.  ³⁴ They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”  ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.