Lectionary for Easter 3
How could I ever repay all God’s bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon God’s name. Psalm 116:12-13
Collect. O God, on this day you gather together your pilgrim Church throughout the world to keep the memory of the Lord’s resurrection. Pour out the Holy Spirit on us now, that in the celebration of the eucharist we may recognise the crucified and risen Christ, who opens our hearts to understand the Scriptures and who reveals himself in the breaking of the bread: for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Acts 2:14a, 36-41 In the oral history and in the sacred writings of the Hebrews there was never any attempt to down play the failures and disobedience of the people. The whole of their history was a record of disobedience and then return. It was a history that the prophets did not try to avoid because it was the consequences that followed from their disobedience that brought about God’s judgement and also emphasised his faithfulness and mercy. Time and time again the prophets had proposed that only in returning to God and resting in God’s way would the people find true salvation. (Isaiah 30:15)
With that in mind we see that Peter’s sermon is following the pattern the prophets had set ages before. Their disobedience has led to disaster. However this time Peter announces that the very one that the people were expecting to come from God to rescue them was indeed the same Jesus that they had betrayed and destroyed. To discover that they had rejected the very one that God has sent would have cut deep into their relationship with God. In their minds for centuries they had waited patiently and expectantly for God’s promised salvation. (Isaiah 25:9) No wonder the text says “they were cut to the heart”; this was the last thing they would have expected and they are mortified. Peter, speaking with the authority of the Holy Spirit brings the truth to them and they respond. The question is, “What shall we do?” and the answer is to repent and be baptised. Repentance is to actively change our mind about the love and mercy of the Lord God.
Though all hear and many make a welcomed response there are those who do not respond. God communicates with us in many different ways but the spoken word often brings a message from the Spirit through the audible words of a speaker. Sadly in our culture we are trained to evaluate messages for so often we are bombarded with messages. Just at the moment there is a debate about the negative role of internet influencers who peddle misinformation to the detriment of others. So discernment needs to be actively exercised and yet sometimes we can miss the opportunity to hear a clear message from God.
Peter’s hearers were confronted with a significant act of disobedience and they needed to make an immediate adjustment to their relationship with God. Peter declares the truth and it is this truth which opens the way to forgiveness and freedom. (John 8:32) The new believers waste no time and at once turn to God and accept God’s forgiveness and mercy. Having made that decision the new believers joined in the activities of the Christian fellowship. For us, our decision needs to be equally decisive: Thus, when we hear God’s call we too need to respond.
Prayer. Lord God, we thank you that you have not required of us that we should comprehend Christianity; for if that were required, we should of all people be the most miserable. The more we seek to comprehend it the more incomprehensible it appears to be. Therefore we praise you that you only require faith, and so we pray that you would increase it more and more. To the honour and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Adapted from Soren Kierkegaard)
Holy Lord give us the ears which will hear your voice and in obedience follow on your way, trusting only in the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit One God for ever more. Amen
Reading Luke 24:13-35. This story which tradition has named the “Walk to Emmaus” comes to us on two different levels. Firstly it is Luke who has set out to record all that Jesus did and taught in his two letters retained by the early church. (Acts 1:1) Here then is Luke’s description of a resurrection appearance of Jesus. The New Testament hints at many appearance stories which are not fully described. This is perhaps not surprising for Jesus was physically present with his disciples for forty days after the resurrection event. Thus Luke is reminding the early church that Jesus met with these two disciples as they journeyed home to Emmaus.
Secondly Luke is recording this event in order to teach the church members who would be reading this passage many years after Jesus had returned in glory to the Father. For this reason alone it is worthy of more careful consideration.
Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the significant centre of the Jewish faith. Just the act of walking away reminds us of the disappointment that the two companions are feeling. While they are fully engaged in the ministry and the expectations of Jesus, their understanding was incomplete. As Jesus joined them Luke says, something kept them from recognising who he was. We do not know why they failed to recognise him, only that his true identity remained hidden. Sometimes the harshness and the reality of life can lead us to believe that the help that God can provide is far away.
When Jesus asks them what they were discussing one of the disciples is named. This suggests that this disciple at least was known by many in the church and so gives added veracity to Luke’s remembrance. There is also a little mystery here for while Cleopas or Clopas was a relatively common name, (the name means “the whole glory”) Cleopas was also the name of the husband of Mary who was the half sister to the mother of Jesus. Is Luke reminding his contemporary readers that these two disciples are known to the church?
In order to answer the description from the two disciples of who Jesus was and the events that had preceded their journey, Jesus himself takes them back to through the scriptures, showing them that it is in the scriptures that the life and destiny of Jesus is described. The faith is more than a feeling but is grounded in all that God has planned and purposed and revealed to us through the written word of prophecy. Amos 3:7 As the word comes alive the disciples respond. It is as Jesus explains the scriptures that he brings a new hope that opens their eyes to a whole new possibility but emphasising that Jesus was destined to suffer and die but then be revealed in all his glory. Were not our hearts burning within us.
As Luke’s description comes to an end Jesus makes to walk on but the disciples invite him into their home. By inviting him to break and divide the bread as they share the meal they show him what was normal Jewish hospitality. It is in that normal life sharing experience that their eyes are opened and they see that this person in front of them is indeed Jesus. The formula that Luke uses is suggestive of the Lord’s Supper but that does not mean that Jesus was preparing to distribute “communion bread”, it could be that but more broadly this is the sharing of an ordinary meal. Luke’s point is that the Risen Lord meets them in the ordinary and the every day. Jesus renews their faith and gives them all the confidence they need to face the future with hope.
Prayer. Risen Lord Jesus we pray that you would walk with us as you walked with those two disciples long ago. Refresh and renew our faith that our trust in you may flourish and grow. Guide us through all the events of life that at all times we may place our confidence and hope in you. As we stay close to you may we never be ashamed to own you as our Lord and on every step may our obedient walk demonstrate your goodness and your grace. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Lord and Saviour. Amen
Collect, Loving God, guide and friend, in Christ you walk through life with us. We thank you for his presence in word and sacrament. Renew and restore us, that we may proclaim Jesus the Living One, the hope of the world; this we pray in his name. Amen.
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