Sunday Morning, April 6, 2008
Third Sunday of Easter
Worship at 10am in the Sanctuary
Scripture Readings:
Luke 24:13-35

It is Sunday afternoon on the day of resurrection. Two of Jesus’ followers are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a distance of about seven miles. They are talking about all the things that have happened recently. A stranger joins them and enquires what they are talking about. They explain all the things that have happened in the last few days. They tell how Jesus was crucified by the Romans, and they say, in a despairing and dispirited manner: “But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” Then they pass on the amazing story that the women told them – that early this morning the tomb was empty, and that an angelic vision told them that Christ was alive. These two do not know what to make of this, so the stranger (who is really not a stranger) explains to them how the scriptures of Israel say that the Messiah must suffer before he is glorified.
Whey they reach Emmaus, the stranger acts as if he is going on, but the two disciples implore him to come eat with them. He goes with them, and then we read: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then there eyes were opened, and they recognized him….” And later they tell all the disciples how Christ “… had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
In the earliest Christian worship celebrations, Communion was celebrated as part of a common meal together. So this is a Communion story. It is an object lesson, so to speak, about disciples’ stopping in the midst of their life’s journey to worship, eat together, participate in the Lord’s Supper, and so recognize Christ in their midst.
In what ways do we know Jesus’ presence in our lives as we share in Christ’s community and come to the Table of Communion together?