Sernon: May 8, 2011

Seeking our Emmaus

Scripture: Psalm 116: 1-7 and Luke 24:13-35

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ May 8, 2011-05-05

Celebrating the Gifts of Woman and Mother’s Day

With the Birthday Offering

INTRODUCTION SCRIPTURE
Psalm 116: 1-7
The psalm begins with a member of the congregation giving a testimony. In the presence of the gathered people this person tells of an answer to prayer. We think of such testimony as witnessing to God’s actions in our lives. When was the last time you gave your testimony?
1I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”
5Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
6The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Luke 24:13-35
Through all the talking and walking that frame and shape this text there is a major change in these two men. They move from tellers of a sad story, to tellers of a story about having seen the Lord in the breaking of the bread. We all seek to see Jesus in our every day lives.

13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

SERMON
If you are going to tell your story about Jesus’ place in your life, I would recommend keeping it simple. Most people will relate to a “road to Emmaus” more than the “road to Damascus.” Saul, who became Paul, was on the road to Damascus when he was struck blind by an encounter with the resurrected Jesus. A few of us have had lightning bolt conversions to faith but most of us have had encounters with the resurrected Jesus in quiet moments of scripture study, conversations with faithful people, or sharing a meal. Sound familiar? That is the journey that Cleopas and his companion have on the road to Emmaus. They don’t recognize Jesus until the breaking of the bread and then as they reflect back on their experience they see he was already with them.

Jesus is with us speaking to us everyday. We need eyes and ears to see and hear him. Sometimes we need reflection time. Looking back to our Emmaus journey and seeing Jesus on the road with us when we thought we were struggling all alone.

Throughout the year we at Unity focus on youth and children and celebrate their gifts. On Father’s Day we will rise up and celebrate the gifts of men in the church. Today is Mother’s Day and Unity has chosen this day to celebrate the gifts of women. Why celebrate the gifts of one particular group when we are all one in Christ Jesus? Human nature seems to need to put people in concrete rolls for future reference, expectations and control. In the church we are called to work against prejudice and encourage one another to try new things and stretch ourselves into new possibilities. Jesus wants us to walk beside the young single mother struggling with two jobs and let her know she is valued and worthy. He wants us to say that parenting is very important and so is sharing gifts of art, science and leadership. Our focus on the gifts of woman is so we do not forget that there are women in scripture and women in our congregation who regularly do beautiful things and are remarkable saints in the faith. They are our role models of faithful servants of Christ Jesus. When the church is caring and loving like a mother, people will look back on their lives and see Jesus in what the church has done and how we have cared: Cleopas and his companion, in their reflection saw Jesus revealed. Those the church walks with will look back and say:

When I was hungry, they brought me food. When I was alone and afraid, they came and visited me. When I was struggled with difficult decisions, they prayed for me.

I thought I was alone but was not my heart burning within me as the people of this church taught, prayed, provided and just showed that Jesus does love me?

God has called all of us together to be one in the Spirit. Our similar and different gifts can work together for the common mission of the whole body of Christ, which is to proclaim the Gospel of new life found in the redeeming love of Jesus. We are grateful for those women who use those God’s gifts to be good mothers, teachers, police, nurses, doctors, architects, childcare workers, fire-fighters, soldiers, song writers, song singers, musicians, painters, plumbers, lawyers, preachers and faithful prayer warriors. For all the women who work to smooth the hurts and reveal the person of Jesus in their very lives, we give God thanks.

We are all yearning for time with Jesus. Perhaps you will find yourself on a road to Emmaus and you may need to find a woman to ask for directions. Then she may say, “Sit down have a cup of tea and tell me where you are headed.” I pray you will take the time to reflect on God’s purpose in your life with a woman of faith. Amen.