How can you believe?

Proclamation of the Word

One question I have been asked is: how can you believe in Jesus?

A member of the church was dying, I’ll call her Meg. Meg was strong in faith and a great believer in prayer.  Her son rang one day to talk with me about her situation. He had grown up believing, but had struggled, and found himself unable to believe. As we talked, he asked why/how did I believe? How was it possible?

I have been asked that question a few times, mainly when people find out that I have studied science and engineering; and that I grew up in a family that was not part of a church.

Each of us will answer that question differently, but for me, it is about experience, experiences that speak to me of love and hope and healing. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been some doubts along the way, sometimes when I wondered if God actually knew me and cared about what happened to me. but experiences strong enough for me to keep believing even when it seems futile.

……

On our gospel reading today we heard of two people walking the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a distance about the same as from here to West Gosford. Imagine what it would have been like for them;

they had been with Jesus, though not as part of the Twelve,
they had witnessed the crucifixion
they were fearful,
sad
confused.

That very morning some women went and found the tomb empty, some angels told the women to remind the disciples of what Jesus had told them, and to meet him in Galilee.

I imagine them walking to Emmaus slowly, burdened by dashed hopes, then running back quickly back to Jerusalem to tell the others of their encounter.

Some days it is a struggle

to get out of bed

to keep on going when we feel like it doesn’t make any difference

to keep praying and working for peace when war and violence seem to increase

some days it is a struggle to believe

Part of being in a church is we help each other believe;

not by insisting on a set of doctrines,

but by meeting together to pray and sing

and listen to the stories of our faith.

To remember the way God worked in the lives of people throughout the Old and New testaments, and the way God works in our own lives.

We show God’s care in our caring,

we show God’s generosity in our sharing

Where do you see/hear/sense the risen Christ?

When walking

gardening

singing

in the breaking of the bread

in the laughter of children

where do you see the risen Christ?

Who do you tell?

The two people walking on the road did not recognise that the stranger was Jesus.

I wonder why?

What stops us recognising the risen Christ?

The two people walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, were walking westwards, into the sun, maybe that is why they did not recognise him immediately, or was it their confusion and grief?

What about us, what stops us recognising the risen Christ?

Is it that we are looking the wrong way?

or too busy with our own thoughts
or looking at our self?

What stops us recognising the risen Christ?
in people we meet
and in the world around us? 

…

There are a number of different resurrection sightings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

 In Matthew’s gospel, the women at the tomb are greeted with “Do not be afraid”

In John, Jesus tells the disciples, and then Thomas: “Peace be with you”

Here in Luke two people walking together, trying to make sense of the past week.

How often do we find time to try and make sense of what is going on in our lives?

How often do we seek out a partner for reflection and prayer?

Someone to help us think about how we live as a follower of Jesus in a world where violence is the first option in conflict?

Someone to help us think about how we live as a follower of Jesus when we live in a community where some people have to choose between food and medicine?

Someone to help us think about how we live as a follower of Jesus when so many voices shout for our attention?

Maybe it would be easier to not be afraid, and to live in the peace of Christ, if we talked and reflected together with one or two other people, people we trusted who challenged and comforted us as we try and make sense of life.

Life is a struggle some days, we move around in a fog of despair and disappointment, fear, anger or resentment.

We are burdened by grief and shame and anxiety

Life can be messy and confusing.

This story reminds me that Jesus is with me, even when I don’t recognise his presence.

This story also challenges me to look for signs of the risen Christ in the people I meet and the world around me.  

What helps you believe?