Third Sunday of Easter
June 26, 2020
A Message for the Heart
Psalm 16: 5-11
Luke 24: 13-35
April 26, 2020
TEXT: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?"
Luke 24:32
A little boy went into the neighborhood grocery store and asked for a box of Tide. The grocer patted him on the head and said jokingly, "My, such a good lad! Getting ready to do the family laundry?" "No," the little boy replied, "I've got a new little puppy and I want to wash it." "That's mighty strong detergent to wash a little puppy with," said the grocer." "But I saw it on TV," said the little boy. "It makes things clean and fluffy." "All right, but be careful how you use it," said the grocer. A few days later, the little boy came back into the store. "How is your little puppy?" the grocer asked. "We buried him last night," said the boy. "I'm so sorry," the grocer replied, "but I did warn you about the detergent." Sadly, the boy replied, "It wasn't the Tide that got him, it was the rinse cycle."
If you ever have felt as though life has put you through the rinse cycle, then you have some inkling of how Jesus' two disciples in today's Gospel Lesson were feeling as they walked along the road to Emmaus. Their words say it all, in mournful tones:
Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people ... our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death and crucified Him. But “we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (Lk. 24:21). "I will not leave you desolate" (Jn. 14:18), Jesus had said to them -- and now He is gone ... forever!
"In the world you have tribulation," He had said to them, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33) -- and now He is gone ... forever!
He had "preached Good News to the people" (Lk. 3:18), and now He is gone ... forever!
They had "hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel": lead them to final victory over their oppressors; restore the Kingdom of Israel to power and preeminence in the world; deliver them from evil; cast out all their fears; give them good jobs when the New Order was established; provide them with the "happy ending" -- and now He, along with their dream of "living happily ever after" is gone ... forever!
But then it happens! Before the day is over, a Stranger to whom the two disciples had extended hospitality sits down with them to eat. And the Stranger took "bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them" (Lk. 24:30). And, in the breaking of the bread, their eyes are "opened" and "they recognize Him." The Stranger who had walked and talked with them on the road to Emmaus is Jesus. Their crucified Lord has not left them desolate. Their crucified Lord is now their Risen Lord. He has indeed "overcome the world." He has given them a reason, beyond their wildest dreams, to be of good cheer." And when He quickly vanishes out of their sight, they say to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?" (Lk. 24:32). And, because of their "heartburn," those two disciples become part of a little band of men and women who turned the world upside down with the Good News that He indeed is the One who has redeemed the world; and that He has set His people free from the powers of evil and the fear of death.
Today's Gospel Lesson is meant to give us heartburn. Do not our hearts burn within us while we hear Jesus' two disciples talk to us about the Risen Lord? Do not our hearts burn with eagerness to turn the world upside down with the Good News of the Risen Lord?
We have not know Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace, and power.
The things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee!
We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee.
Thy Presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give us a pure and burning heart
To know and own the Love Thou art.
Rudyard Kipling wrote a story about a little ship about to go on its first voyage. The captain's daughter christened the ship and named it "Dimbula." Then she said to her father, "Father, now we have a great ship." The captain replied, "No, daughter, not yet. I must take her to sea." When he took the ship on her maiden voyage it began to give off creaking sounds which grew louder and louder as though each part was straining and groaning and struggling to fall into its proper place, as though the ship was trying to pull itself together. But after sixteen days at sea, as she sailed back into the harbor, the creaking and the straining and the groaning had been transformed into an even sound -- as if to say, "My master has taken me through the rough spots in which everything seemed to be coming apart, and I have become what I have been made to be. I am the 'Dimbula.' Because I have a master, I am a ship."
Because Christ has risen, you have a Master to take you through the rough spots in which everything seems to be coming apart. Because Christ has risen, you have a Master who will show you the way to become a human person in the highest sense. Because Christ has risen, because Christ is with you now, may your heart burn within you with eagerness to share the Good News of His loving, caring Presence.
Lord ...
Give us a pure and burning heart
To know and own the Love Thou art.
Lord ...
Give us a pure and burning heart
Eager to share the love Thou art.
Luke 24: 13-35
April 26, 2020
TEXT: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?"
Luke 24:32
A little boy went into the neighborhood grocery store and asked for a box of Tide. The grocer patted him on the head and said jokingly, "My, such a good lad! Getting ready to do the family laundry?" "No," the little boy replied, "I've got a new little puppy and I want to wash it." "That's mighty strong detergent to wash a little puppy with," said the grocer." "But I saw it on TV," said the little boy. "It makes things clean and fluffy." "All right, but be careful how you use it," said the grocer. A few days later, the little boy came back into the store. "How is your little puppy?" the grocer asked. "We buried him last night," said the boy. "I'm so sorry," the grocer replied, "but I did warn you about the detergent." Sadly, the boy replied, "It wasn't the Tide that got him, it was the rinse cycle."
If you ever have felt as though life has put you through the rinse cycle, then you have some inkling of how Jesus' two disciples in today's Gospel Lesson were feeling as they walked along the road to Emmaus. Their words say it all, in mournful tones:
Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people ... our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death and crucified Him. But “we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (Lk. 24:21). "I will not leave you desolate" (Jn. 14:18), Jesus had said to them -- and now He is gone ... forever!
"In the world you have tribulation," He had said to them, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33) -- and now He is gone ... forever!
He had "preached Good News to the people" (Lk. 3:18), and now He is gone ... forever!
They had "hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel": lead them to final victory over their oppressors; restore the Kingdom of Israel to power and preeminence in the world; deliver them from evil; cast out all their fears; give them good jobs when the New Order was established; provide them with the "happy ending" -- and now He, along with their dream of "living happily ever after" is gone ... forever!
But then it happens! Before the day is over, a Stranger to whom the two disciples had extended hospitality sits down with them to eat. And the Stranger took "bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them" (Lk. 24:30). And, in the breaking of the bread, their eyes are "opened" and "they recognize Him." The Stranger who had walked and talked with them on the road to Emmaus is Jesus. Their crucified Lord has not left them desolate. Their crucified Lord is now their Risen Lord. He has indeed "overcome the world." He has given them a reason, beyond their wildest dreams, to be of good cheer." And when He quickly vanishes out of their sight, they say to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?" (Lk. 24:32). And, because of their "heartburn," those two disciples become part of a little band of men and women who turned the world upside down with the Good News that He indeed is the One who has redeemed the world; and that He has set His people free from the powers of evil and the fear of death.
Today's Gospel Lesson is meant to give us heartburn. Do not our hearts burn within us while we hear Jesus' two disciples talk to us about the Risen Lord? Do not our hearts burn with eagerness to turn the world upside down with the Good News of the Risen Lord?
We have not know Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace, and power.
The things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee!
We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee.
Thy Presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give us a pure and burning heart
To know and own the Love Thou art.
Rudyard Kipling wrote a story about a little ship about to go on its first voyage. The captain's daughter christened the ship and named it "Dimbula." Then she said to her father, "Father, now we have a great ship." The captain replied, "No, daughter, not yet. I must take her to sea." When he took the ship on her maiden voyage it began to give off creaking sounds which grew louder and louder as though each part was straining and groaning and struggling to fall into its proper place, as though the ship was trying to pull itself together. But after sixteen days at sea, as she sailed back into the harbor, the creaking and the straining and the groaning had been transformed into an even sound -- as if to say, "My master has taken me through the rough spots in which everything seemed to be coming apart, and I have become what I have been made to be. I am the 'Dimbula.' Because I have a master, I am a ship."
Because Christ has risen, you have a Master to take you through the rough spots in which everything seems to be coming apart. Because Christ has risen, you have a Master who will show you the way to become a human person in the highest sense. Because Christ has risen, because Christ is with you now, may your heart burn within you with eagerness to share the Good News of His loving, caring Presence.
Lord ...
Give us a pure and burning heart
To know and own the Love Thou art.
Lord ...
Give us a pure and burning heart
Eager to share the love Thou art.
