[ a shorter sermon this week due to a Baptism, and Eucharist]
In this season after Easter we hear of some of the resurrection appearances of Jesus: Last week we heard that Jesus appeared to 10 of the disciples in a locked room, blessing them with peace. Then Jesus appeared to the 10 and Thomas – and Jesus had holes in his body, that proved he was the one who had been crucified.
Pain often leads to holes in our lives, and many of us have holes where we have experienced pain. This piece of timber is full of holes; I doubt the person who I got it off would have picked it up if it was solid. Its beauty and individuality is because of the holes, and like us the holes make it fragile. Jesus understands what it is like to suffer pain, and to be disfigured as a result of pain.
In the reading we heard this morning; we meet two people on the road; confused, bewildered, trying to make sense of what has occurred. As they were discussing what had happened, another person joined them on the road. It was, and is, safer to travel with others than to travel alone.
The stranger asks them what they are talking about. Surely this person has heard! So they told what they knew, and the stranger reminded them of what the prophets had said about the Messiah.
Still the two travellers did not understand.
Emmaus was significant in Jewish history; Maccabeus had led a rebel army, which won a battle against the gentiles at Emmaus. The expectation was that the Messiah would come and free the people. Israel was under Roman occupation; to them the Messiah freeing Israel was about overthrowing the Romans. Jesus did not do that, so many of his followers were wondering if he really was the Messiah. Jesus suffered and died, his kingdom is not one of violence, but one of peace and suffering love. By looking toward Emmaus, the two disciples are looking for a Messiah that will violently and militarily overthrow the Roman occupiers. This was not the way of Jesus. If we profess to follow him, peace, not violence, is the way we live.
So we have two followers of Jesus, walking, talking, confused; and a third person comes and joins them as they walk together. The two have said what had happened in Jerusalem, the death of Jesus, and the maybe resurrection – though it just doesn’t make sense.
The stranger reminds them of the prophets, and they still don’t understand.
The stranger taught them – beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about Jesus in all the scriptures. This is what we do in the communion liturgy – we remember the actions of God in history, of God in Jesus, of the spirit with us in the bread and juice.
Still the two did not understand. It wasn’t when Jesus quoted the scriptures, or when he explained the scriptures, but when he broke bread that they recognised that their travelling companion was Jesus.
We could talk about the importance of hospitality, of talking about our faith, of encouraging one another, but I would like us to think about God being present with us.
Sometimes it seems that Christians only talk about God when things are going well, or even if they aren’t going well, there is a gloss of “it’s God’s will”, as if that somehow makes it all OK.
The reading we heard last week, and the one this week, both see disciples and followers of Jesus confused and bewildered, grieving, and wondering what to do next. It is into this place of despair that Jesus came and walked beside the two. They did not recognize Jesus until after they had journeyed together, after they had spoken together. It was in sitting at the table eating a meal that they recognized who their travelling companion was. And then he was gone.
This is a journey we are invited to join; a journey of sharing faith, sharing doubts, concerns, questions, a journey of community, a journey of shared hospitality; a journey of transformation. We are invited to join this journey, a journey where Jesus travels with us, opening eyes and hearts to resurrection living.
This morning we have baptised William and shortly we will share in communion. In Baptism we are included, in communion we are fed, in being a community of faith, we do as these two, then three, on the road did. They talked about faith, not only what they are sure about, but the things they struggle to understand. As William grows up, talk about your faith, and encourage him to ask questions. Children and I suspect adults, learn by doing as well as talking and listening. Have good faith practices, bedtime stories, prayer times as a family, meeting with other Christians in worship, sharing in the sacraments, these are all things that help us to grow in faith.
And be open to those times when you are acutely aware of Jesus coming alongside and walking with you.
We come to our time of reflection; some people have asked if I can give you a question to think about – when have you been aware of Jesus travelling with you, walking with you?
