Dear All
I hope you are all well.
Below is the link to today’s service.
Luke 24:36-48
Acts 3:12-19
1 John 3:1-7
Yesterday was the funeral of HRH Prince Philip.
The occasion provided a public and private opportunity for nation and family to say a formal farewell to the duke, giving thanks for his life and great service to the country. Throughout this week there have been many tributes paid to him.
We have heard much about his service to the community particularly the young, about his navel career and we have heard many stories portraying his personality and character. But most commented on has been his part in supporting the Queen in her extraordinary role as sovereign.
He has quite clearly walked the walk with her.
We may reflect on our own lives and consider who has walked the walk with us at various stages from childhood, careers, marriage, our faith, even our hobbies and leisure. We may particularly recall those who have walked with us at poignant and pivotal moments of our lives like bereavement and illness.
But our earthly lives are transient, our relationships ephemeral. Parents, partners, friends, colleagues, all come and go over a lifetime and so inevitably there comes a point when we find ourselves bereft and alone.
This is how the disciples felt in the story of the Road to Emmaus which precedes the gospel reading this morning. Jesus in his life had walked beside them, their messiah, their great friend and had taught them amazing things about love forgiveness and God’s Kingdom. But now he was gone, and they were alone, grieving and confused and frightened. Its one of the most poignant scenes in the New Testament.
The two travellers one called Cleopas, the other unnamed, were disciples of Jesus and had set off to trudge the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, it was the afternoon of Easter Day. They were upset. Jerusalem to them now is not a happy place. As far as they are concerned their leader is dead. The master they had loved and followed had been horribly put to death. Their hopes were dashed; the dream was over! But then they are joined by a stranger. The stranger asked them what they were discussing. And so, they poured out their story to someone who seemed willing to listen. They tell the stranger all about their hopes and their disappointments.
Jesus in turn gave them what must have been the most accomplished exposition of scripture, proving that the messiah was meant to “suffer these things and then enter into his glory”
But still, they didn’t recognise him. It was only when they invited Jesus to stay with them and he sat at the table with them and broke bread that the veil was lifted and they knew Jesus was Lord and he had risen.
We walk the road to Emmaus on many a day of misgivings. When more bad news on the world’s scene makes us question God. When reading our scripture brings God no closer and our prayers ring hollow. Sometime our hearts are filled with the kind of complaints that concerned the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Like them we are tempted to tell each other all the terrible things that have been happening to us in the last few days. And all the things so fill our minds that we fail once again to recognise Jesus. Certainly, we can be assured that just like these two disciples, we are not walking alone but there are times when we perhaps feel we do.
We are now in the season of Easter. Our scripture tells us of Christ’s resurrection appearances and the early ministry of the apostles. When Christ appears to the apostles, he clearly understands their fear and confusion and so the first words to them are frequently.
“Peace be with you”
But then he also assures them of the coming and empowering of the Holy spirit
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 and in St Johns gospel he says
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” John 14:16
The Holy Spirit has the power to lift us off the Emmaus road, to still the questioning, calm our fears and help us place our troubles at the foot of the cross.
We do not travel alone.
The Holy Spirit given to us freely from the resurrected Christ is the spirit that walks with us. Not just today, not just this week or this year……..
but for eternity.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20