Today's Scripture Readings
Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (NRSV)
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the multitude, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Psalm 118 (BCP., p.759)
1 Peter 1:17-23 (NRSV)
If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.
Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)
On the first day of the week, two of Jesus' followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Blog Reflection
When I was in college, I took two classes in cultural anthropology. At one point in the course, the professor told us a story. He went on a journey to the rainforests. While he was there, he got to know one of the members of the tribe. My professor spent quite a few days following him, eating with him, seeing his family, seeing how he worked. The man was dressed in a loin cloth, with paint markings all over his body, and a bone through his nose. My professor followed the man one day, to help him carry some logs from the forest back to his home. My professor was amazed because while my professor could barely pick up a single log to carry it; the man who was part of the tribe hurled three full sized logs and carried them on his shoulder. Not only that, but the man knew every elected official in America and what they stood for. The man in the rainforest knew more about America and what goes on here, than my professor could even discuss. It was at that point, that my professor was forced to confront his own ethnocentricity. The white, American, Christian culture was no superior in any way than the man he was learning about.
Those first Disciples walking the road to Emmaus must have felt somewhat like that when this man came along, asked them about why they were so sad. They did not know it was Jesus. After Jesus asked them, and they responded, suddenly the man who was a stranger to them knew more about what had happened than they did. It was not until they Jesus entered the place where they were staying and broke bread with them, that their eyes were opened and they knew it was Jesus.
Sometimes, it takes a stranger to point out to us just how good we have things. Other times, it takes someone who does not know us, to show us a better way to go. Yet, there is one way we know for sure that we are united in welcoming and spending time with each other. It is when we break the Bread that is the Body of Christ, and share the Cup that is the Blood of Christ that strangers become friends. Those who are estranged suddenly find a sense of community, a place of belonging with the Risen Christ and the Church.
Whatever we are facing in our lives, the Risen Christ shares the road we walk on. Whether that be working through an addiction, a relationship that is separating, injustice, oppression, grieving the loss of someone we love; Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead walks, talks and breaks the Bread of His Body with us. We are never alone. No label that an unjust society or the Church may place on us, separates us from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ and one another. St. Paul writes:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38, 39 NRSV).
In today's reading from 1 Peter 1:23 we read:
You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
It remains a deep sadness to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ that the Eucharist is so often used as a weapon to control another persons belief and/or behaviors according to a particular interpretation of Scripture. In this reading from Luke today, it is clear that the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not an excuse to stigmatize or divide people. It is the reason for love and understanding, healing and reconciliation. The Paschal Mystery has the power to end divisions and destroy prejudice and cruelty. It is Christians who have badly interpreted Scripture who continue to make the Eucharist into nothing more than another family dinner, with all the relatives arguing and leaving angry with each other. No wonder people look at Christians and turn away. Is it any wonder why people do not believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead?
I am a Christian who does believe in the Resurrection and how good Jesus Christ is to every person. I do not believe that God sent God's Son to judge people to hell because of their race, sexual orientation, political party, gender, gender identity/expression, language, immigration status, wealth, health or any other reason. I do not believe that the Bible is God's sexual penal code. I believe that the Scriptures are very clear that God's love is unconditional and all-inclusive. I believe that in the heart of God, there are no rejects, losers or those who are hopeless. The Paschal Mystery including the Eucharist is the source of my belief. Among my many reasons for writing this blog week after week, year after year is I want readers to know, that God discriminates against no one. Our Baptismal Covenant as Episcopalians tells us to respect the dignity of every human person. Without exception.
May Christians and many others who are still wondering how real Jesus Christ is, find anew that living hope of God's love and tender mercy. May we all know that God is closer to us than we have any real understanding about. Let there be hospitality, healing and reconciliation because as the hymn words by A.H. Acklel read:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
Prayers
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his
disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith,
that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.224).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.818).
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