Readings: Acts
2: 14a, 36-41 and 1 Peter 1: 17-23, Luke 24: 13-35
‘Now that
same day two of them were going… .’
-Luke
24:13.
This is a very familiar Easter story, but it has
some ‘stop and think’ factors:
·
It only occurs in Luke’s Gospel (there
is a very brief reference, Mark 16: 12-13, in the part of Mark we know was added
later.
·
It is a very carefully composed story,
quite unlike the naturally confused Easter Day reports from witnesses trying to
cope with events beyond their comprehension – and sometimes, initially at
least, beyond belief.
·
It has a clear and positive close – the
confused and rather tentative Easter Day reports are not reflected in this
account – the participants are convinced, and head right back to tell the
others.
All the Easter stories are stories of appearances – there is no account of how the resurrection happened – or
explanation of what kind of event it
was. The New Testament accounts are
modest (compared with some of the stories we now know were circulating at the
time) – accounts of what people believed they had seen, or experienced.
One last point is about ‘story’; for centuries, up
to the modern era, the basic way of teaching was through stories – we see that
in Jesus’ way of teaching, and in the Bible itself. Stories are not ‘true’ or ‘false’ (like a
piece of academic history) – but ‘true to life’ or not. A good story is one we feel we can enter
into, experience something important or learn from.
Some stories have been built up around an initial event
or experience – to bring out or to share its wider significance
NOW for today’s story:
‘Two of them’ [two of the confused, uncertain and
very surprised followers of Jesus] set off for Emmaus ‘that same day’ – and the
story of what happened is familiar to us.
How we ‘read’ [understand] it is over to each of us. Some will read it as a literal account of the
experience of these two, or we could read it as a story created (like the
illustration in a sermon) to encourage people in their faith.
My take on it is: that this story may well reflect
the experience of two people on that Easter evening (one is named-someone
people knew, or knew of), but has been shaped into a carefully crafted story,
decades after the event so:
·
It no longer reflects the confusion and
uncertainty of the first witnesses
·
It reflects the experience of the first
generation of Christians, many of whom would not have known Jesus during his
ministry.
So, in this neat, well-rounded, carefully composed
little story we hear the experience of these first Christians – and we read an
affirmation of our own experience.
Jesus meets us ‘as one unknown’ (Albert Schweitzer),
coming into our lives as we are engaged with other things, journeying with us
so unobtrusively that we only gradually come to realise who he is.
He joins us in what we are struggling with, like
Jesus in the years of his ministry - drawing us back into the centre of God’s
plan for us.
Then finally, who this is becomes clear in worship –
particularly in the Eucharist – Holy Communion.
There we hear his words, recognise his actions. (The simple meal at Emmaus, where the guest
takes the initiative and offers the blessing would have been very like the
original form of Communion.)
He
joins us on our life journey.
He
joins us in our struggle to understand
He
reveals himself in the breaking of bread – in the company of others.
Jesus ministry continues, seeking, encouraging,
reconciling, - present in the gathered community, and in its celebration of
worship.
Simon Rae
No comments:
Post a Comment