Third Sunday of Easter – Pastor Ellen Mills

I am offering you two ways to receive this.  In print, you will need to read the scriptures for yourself, and then the prayer and reflection that follow in this post.  If you click on the audio link below (below), you can hear all of it, including the scriptures.

Third Sunday of Easter

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray,

O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of the bread.  Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

I Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

     “Now on that same day…”  This morning we have the gospel according to Luke, and we are still in the first day of the resurrection. If it seems to you that time is slow to pass, we have been in this same day since April 12! Mary Magdalene has reported that the tomb is empty and angels have been seen.  The angels have said that Jesus is alive.  What could it mean for Jesus to be alive? Peter has gone himself and seen the empty tomb.  Their stories must have been shared among the followers of Jesus, but clearly, they do not yet understand.  It is evening, and two disciples are walking to Emmaus, talking over what has been reported to them.  And Jesus comes near and walks with them.  This appearance differs from other appearances of Jesus because he does not declare who he is.  Jesus walks with them in their grief and bewilderment.  He listens to their pain. They had thought that this Jesus would be the one to save Israel, and his death has deeply disappointed them.  Their understanding of how the Messiah would free them was very clear to them, and very narrow.  Jesus had not done what they expected.  So how then should they live?

     Jesus remarks, “O, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!”  Jesus’ response to their lack of understanding is to go back to the scriptures and open their minds and hearts to a new way of understanding these scriptures in the light of Jesus, Jesus who was crucified and has now risen.  He wants them to understand the whole story, and to understand it in terms of God’s love and faithfulness throughout history. He wants them to see how he was the Messiah the prophets had foretold. But even that does not seem to have done it.  As they offer this stranger hospitality, and as he breaks, blesses, and gives the bread to them, it all makes sense.  They recognize Jesus, and they know Jesus. And he is gone.  They have been given both an understanding for their minds, and an understanding for their hearts.  They know Jesus.  They know Jesus in a way that changes their lives and results in action.  They must go and tell the others.  No matter that it has been a long day of stress and uncertainty.  No matter that they must now walk another 7 miles.  They know, and they must share this with others.  And they go.

     The usual understanding of this story links it to communion and the words said as the bread is blessed, broken and shared.  It may be hard to be reminded of communion together in this time of physical separation, when we cannot worship together as we usually do.  But this image of bread is also an image for the life of Jesus.  He was blessed by God, identified as the beloved Son of God with whom God was well pleased.  He was broken, as he freely gave up his life for us all.  And after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit spread from him to us all, and spreads out into the world.  The risen life of Jesus is shared.

     The other message I hear in this passage this morning is that Jesus walks with us as we struggle to understand what is happening in our world today.  What expectations do we have of the outcome of this difficult time?  Have we already decided what the outcome should be? Sometimes our expectation of just what the outcome should look like can get in the way of our seeing what God is actually doing in and with us.  God remains faithful. God is always bringing love and new life.  This new life may not come when we expect.  This new life may not come how we expect.  We may need to go back to the scriptures and to sit with them in prayer, letting God speak through them to our hearts.  We may need to have God open our eyes to see Jesus in our midst.  We may need to let the words of Jesus burn in our hearts to give us courage and faith to keep walking.  We need to tell the stories of where we have found the risen Christ in all that we are experiencing, and share the hope that this brings.  Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy.

The Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace.

Amen.