4/22/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our reading from Luke 24:13-35 shows a picture of deep sorrow. As the day of resurrection was coming to a close, some disciples who did not believe were walking to Emmaus. Perhaps this was their home, or maybe it was on the way home.
Even in a society that is used to walking, this is a pretty good walk. About seven miles doesn't happen that quickly. It will be somewhere around two hours. And these are very sad hours.
Jesus was taken, convicted, and put to death at the word of the chief priests. Hope of redemption was broken and killed on a cross. Then, to make matters worse, someone must have taken the body. It's gone. Some of the disciples reported an angelic vision. Maybe they are too disturbed and emotional.
This is a very sad walk. Yet the disciples have a companion. Unknown to them, it is Jesus, the risen Lord. He doesn't seem easy to recognize after the resurrection. But he explains the Scriptures, then appears to them in breaking bread.
The breaking of the bread in communion is one of the gifts Jesus has left for his people. He comes to us in his body and blood, given and shed for us. When we confront doubt, fear, abandonment, and grief, we can know that the same risen Lord, Jesus, is there for us in the breaking of the bread. Like those early disciples, we too can receive his presence and all his joy.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our reading from Luke 24:13-35 shows a picture of deep sorrow. As the day of resurrection was coming to a close, some disciples who did not believe were walking to Emmaus. Perhaps this was their home, or maybe it was on the way home.
Even in a society that is used to walking, this is a pretty good walk. About seven miles doesn't happen that quickly. It will be somewhere around two hours. And these are very sad hours.
Jesus was taken, convicted, and put to death at the word of the chief priests. Hope of redemption was broken and killed on a cross. Then, to make matters worse, someone must have taken the body. It's gone. Some of the disciples reported an angelic vision. Maybe they are too disturbed and emotional.
This is a very sad walk. Yet the disciples have a companion. Unknown to them, it is Jesus, the risen Lord. He doesn't seem easy to recognize after the resurrection. But he explains the Scriptures, then appears to them in breaking bread.
The breaking of the bread in communion is one of the gifts Jesus has left for his people. He comes to us in his body and blood, given and shed for us. When we confront doubt, fear, abandonment, and grief, we can know that the same risen Lord, Jesus, is there for us in the breaking of the bread. Like those early disciples, we too can receive his presence and all his joy.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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