May 4, 2014 Third Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
   17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
   They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
   19 “What things?” he asked.
   “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
   25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
   28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
   30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
   33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

“Slow Of Heart To Believe”

Heart is: “the seat of both reason and will and carries the meaning of the inner essence of our being.”  It is an important word in the scriptures.

To try make sense of the resurrection to the mind alone is impossible; it must be to the heart first and then the mind will live with what it cannot fathom.  We don’t understand baptism; we do it.  We can’t comprehend heaven or describe it; we believe in it, and leave the rest to God.  It’s his problem not ours!

He created us; he loves us; he caused Jesus to be born; he caused him to rise from the dead; he will take care of heaven for us.  We can just believe it with the heart and live as if it is true; knowing deep within - within the heart - that it is true!

“Stay With Us - Hospitality”

The story of the text comes to bear on the story of our lives, creating change in the story we live. (Sheldon Tostengard)

“When all is said and done, the astonishing thing in this story is not that these two fragile human beings were ‘foolish’ and ‘slow of heart’ to believe.  The astonishing thing is that with all their foolishness and slowness of heart they offered their hospitality to an incomprehensible stranger and were given the Lord’s own gift of Easter faith, the Lord’s own gift of self, in the breaking of the bread.”  (Proclamation 3, p.20)

Jesus words were not enough to create faith - his actions were.
For what the mind cannot comprehend, the heart can see and believe.

“Offer an open and hospitable space where strangers can cast off their strangeness and become our fellow human beings.”  “Where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of (remain) an enemy.  Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.”  Henri Nouwen

“Joys That Are Eternal”

In a Prayer Of The Day for the 3rd Sunday of Easter we find these words which point to the theme of the day:  “Grant your faithful people a share in the joys that are eternal...”

To share in the joys that are eternal is not only for tomorrow;  it is for now!  One way is hospitality.  When we practice hospitality our eyes are opened to see Jesus walking with us in people, places and ways we least expected.    We discover the joy of
Jesus present in the here and now - in acts of love and compassion.

The challenge for us is to recognize Jesus walking with us, even when at first he is hidden from our sight.

We were in Amman, Jordan, in a Orphanage for “throw away children”.  Children who were so severely challenged, both physically and mentally that they could do little for them selves.  We fed them, played with them, took them outside.  We tried to be hospitable with them.  Little seemed to make much difference in their miserable existence.

Then on Thursday morning a well dressed man entered the Orphanage.  Suit, tie, very “western” looking.  As soon as he entered all the children began to squeal and make what ever noise they could.  We stood in awe as he removed his suit coat and began one by one to call the children by name and gently but firmly move their twisted limbs.
It look like it might hurt.  They enjoyed every minute of it.   And each had their turn.

When he was finished he sat with us.  He told us he was a Physical Therapist, a Muslim who instead of going to Mosque came weekly to the Orphanage to spend some time
with the children.  The children who were hopelessly deformed and for whom he could do little good.  Except give them a few moments of loving touch.

When he left we all agreed that we had seen Jesus - in that man and in the hospitality of his touch!  We were surprised by the discovery; and overjoyed to have our eyes opened to see that Jesus walks with all who touch in love!  Hospitality at its best!