Preachrblog

As the Easter season continues, the lectionary sets before us another fascinating post-resurrection appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This time, he appears to two disciples who are walking the 7 miles, or 2 plus hour journey, from Jerusalem to Emmaus.   Only Luke tells us this  particular story , and it  likely came  from his careful research and interviews, the firsthand accounts of those who were there.      But similarly to what John emphasized in last Sunday’s reading – that it is blessed to see and believe, but even more blessed to not see and yet believe...  So now we have these two disciples who are kept from seeing Jesus .   Well, at least their physical eyes were  mysteriously  kept from seeing him for a time – while instead he revea led himself to them in the word, and  later,  in the breaking of the bread.   They were distressed and confused, saddened, but also perplexed by the news the w...

T his First Sunday after Easter, our Gospel reading takes us to the very first week of Easter. There we see the disciples locked up for fear of the Jews – even though some of them had seen the risen Jesus already. And then, even after they had a whole week  to sort  it out – there was still much unsettled for them. What will the future hold? What does all this mean? Are we safe? Where IS Jesus anyway? To put it simply, they were not at peace.     But then Jesus does what Jesus does. He  does  a miracle. He speaks a word. And he changes things.     Today we can still recall the Easter celebration as church was packed and  bells  and choirs and  fanfare  all joined to the celebration, and we greeted each other, “Christ is Risen! He is  risen  indeed, Alleluia! ”.  But now  it's  a week later. And life is already getting back to normal. Or is it? We may have some of the same questions as those disciples. W...