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bob smith, richmond
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V 47. repentance and forgiveness
Several versions translate as above or similar,
some say repentance for forgiveness or similar and
one (Message by Eugene Peterson) says "total
life-change through the forgiveness of sins."
These are three different ways of looking at what
Jesus said. I don't have my ABS translator's guide
with me to see if there is any suggested inference
by using and in place of for. I don't expect to
find help with Peterson's, yet that in itself is
an interesting way to think about this. Life is
changed because of or due to forgiveness.
I have had a little fun with this passage before
as it shows Jesus referring to the difference
between a ghost and a human body. Typically I have
followed either this is real proof of His
resurrection or the Lukan Great Commission. This
is not something new but is something I have not
noticed previously. That it stands out today for
the first time ever is redirecting my thoughts on
the sermon to the way these two words or similar
definitions relate to one another in the message
we are to proclaim.
What say ye?
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bob smith, richmond
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V 47. repentance and forgiveness
Several versions translate as above or similar,
some say repentance for forgiveness or similar and
one (Message by Eugene Peterson) says "total
life-change through the forgiveness of sins."
These are three different ways of looking at what
Jesus said. I don't have my ABS translator's guide
with me to see if there is any suggested inference
by using and in place of for. I don't expect to
find help with Peterson's, yet that in itself is
an interesting way to think about this. Life is
changed because of or due to forgiveness.
I have had a little fun with this passage before
as it shows Jesus referring to the difference
between a ghost and a human body. Typically I have
followed either this is real proof of His
resurrection or the Lukan Great Commission. This
is not something new but is something I have not
noticed previously. That it stands out today for
the first time ever is redirecting my thoughts on
the sermon to the way these two words or similar
definitions relate to one another in the message
we are to proclaim.
What say ye?
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Comments: |
Throck in Oz
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Wow, Bob, you have really made me look at this
passage with new eyes, today! Thanks.
Maybe this is all we need to proclaim - repentance
and forgiveness.
so, Jesus is saying that all the Scriptures say
about the Messiah - Moses and the prophets and
psalms - must be fulfilled. And that the meaning
is that the Messiah must suffer, and rise from the
dead.
It seems that because of this, repentance and
forgiveness can and will be proclaimed to all
nations, in his name.
they are witnesses to the fulfilment of this.
It's wonderful when something you do know, and has
always been there, gains a new momentum.
So I will be framing my sermon around us. We, too,
are witnesses to the fulfilment of Scripture.
Because we hear and believe in the resurrection,
we must proclaim repentance; and it is through
repentance that forgiveness is freely available,
because of the love of God, shown in Jesus'
Resurrection.
I'm also struck anew by the way that Jesus'
unexpected presence amongst people opens their
minds to the meaning of the Scriptures that they
already think they know. Surely, that is what we
find when we sit with people and delve into study?
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steve souther
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Bob and Throck:
This connection between the resurrection and
the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness of
sins is also where I'm going. But the question is:
how is this proclaimed to the nations?
As you say, these --the Resurrection, repentance
and forgiveness of sins-- go together. There is no
repentance without forgiveness; and there is no
forgiveness without repentance.
Because of the resurrection there is forgiveness,
not because of our ability to repent. Yet, we
repent, having received that itself as a gift.
To proclaim this in Jesus' name, not our own,
may be the key. Many times the call to repentance
has been in some other name, not the one who rose
from the grave and bestowed grace and peace upon
frightened disciples...and didn't wreak vengeance
upon the guilty. That's the name and the
connection.
Thanks.
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Rick in Canada, eh?
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Hi all.
First point. Steve, you are bang on when you say,
"Because of the resurrection there is
forgiveness, not because of our ability to repent.
Yet, we repent, having received that itself as a
gift." Thanks for that.
Second point, related to the first. Too often when
we "proclaim repentance," we forget that
we are not the ones to whom repentance needs to be
made. We forget that repentance might not follow
our formula, or coincide with our person
liturgical preferences.
We can't, and shouldn't, insist on the
"other" repenting to our standards or
satisfaction. We don't have to witness it, or see
results, or observe "corrected"
behaviour. It's not for us to decide if someone
else's repentance is genuine or heartfelt enough.
We've got enough to worry about with our own!
We proclaim resurrection and forgiveness, and
remind people (and ourselves!) that there are many
ways to "turn around" (which is what
"repentance" means, after all).
Peace all.
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steve souther
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Rick: "It's not for us to decide if someone
else's repentance is genuine or heartfelt enough.
We've got enough to worry about with our
own!"
This helps. Thank you.
In thinking about how repentance has worked out
in my own life, I see that it mostly evolved over
time--it's been a journey, taking many years in
some cases. Still, it's too premature to talk
about. The best vantage point we may have is the
very last day of our life, as John Calvin says. It
is there that we can begin describing how
repentance and forgiveness has worked out for us
--much less in someone else, as you so aptly said,
Rick.
This has turned out to be a productive session,
I think. I had nothing at the beginning, only some
boiled fish. There's not much more than a bite
there, although it helps prove Jesus was human
even after the resurrection.
I think it is evident in this text that belief was
hindered in the disciples when they thought of
Jesus as only a ghost. In this state (that Jesus
was reduced to), there would be no relationship
any more to their daily lives. The discipleship
years were then relegated only to the past. Death
brought about a clean break between past and
present.
That changed for the disciples the moment Jesus
ate boiled fish. I think it would have tasted
better if fried, though. But this bite became
symbolic of something far more important--a
proclamation to all the nations!
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steve souther
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Friends,
"They were still disbelieving"
If disciples with the resurrected Jesus in
their midst are 'disbelieving,' how hard then is
it for us to believe? And yet we have come to
believe.
This is something to proclaim from the
housetop! It isn't easy, and we shouldn't say it
is, but it did happened to us! And it can only be
attributed to the resurrected Jesus. He eats in
our midst even today, raising in us that belief
long ago that came to the disciples as they
gathered.
This doesn't mean we can explain it. But it
does mean that we can invite others who need this
belief as well. Somehow repentance and forgiveness
are found there at the table where the wine and
bread are served.
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Throck in Oz
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Steve,
thanks. you have really brought this passage to
life for me. Like you, I felt I started with only
a piece of fish.
The themes of repentance and forgiveness seem to
have followed me all this week. It is so important
to impress on our people that it is God's
forgiveness, not ours.
and they were still unbelieving -
hooray! It doesn't rely even on our belief!!
I'm going to ask people to put themselves into
that same mind-set that the disciples had - full
of fear and questions. Not understanding the
reports of Resurrection. Not sure what had
happened on the road to Emmaus. Confused and
feeling guilty.
then, just imagine the joy and relief, when Jesus
opens their minds to understand everything that
Moses and the psalms and the prophets have said.
Forgiveness and repentance can now be proclaimed
to all nations. Even to us! Alleluia!
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Revhen
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Two things: 1) The honest frightened response of
the disciples gives credence to the truthfulness
of the resurrection, 2) the "to all
nations" universalizes all that Jesus did.
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rev smith, Lacey IA
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The proclamation of repentance of/for forgiveness
is where I was heading earlier this week. I'm
still going there but I think I will go back to
basics and remind all that we need forgiveness.
Listening to the radio this last week I heard a
song I've listened to many times "I Think
Most People are Good" by Luke Bryan. I like
the song but it struck me that this song reflects
a lot of people's attitudes about the nature of
people.
As Jesus replied, "No one is good except
God."
When people begin to believe the lie that they are
inherently good, they don't feel the need to
repent or the need for forgiveness. One of Satan's
best lies because we desire to be good like God
and even strive for it. The honest truth is we are
born out of a sinful nature and no matter how we
try we still fall short.
Once we accept our brokenness we can repent and
receive the gift of forgiveness.
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steve souther
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"he honest frightened response of
the disciples gives credence to the truthfulness
of the resurrection, 2) the "to all
nations" universalizes all that Jesus
did."
Good point, Revhen.
Something else came to mind which I think I'll
begin with. The idea of Jesus' return and what
that's going to be like must be rooted here in the
account we've been given already of his return.
It came as a surprise. No amount of getting
ready, as the preacher of my youth exhorted us to
do, could be credited to us --as it was not to the
disciples' credit. They did nothing to 'get
ready.' Jesus came and brought peace to them in
their total unreadiness.
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bob smith, richmond
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Steve,
"To proclaim this in Jesus' name, not our
own,
may be the key." That's what is needed.
Almost two things. First, people are shy to
proclaim it. Then, a person may get on the soap
box without asking Jesus along. I like it.
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Older discussion:
I think the fact of Jesus eating with his disciples in the post-resurrection appearances might have been especially highlighted to combat docetism, an early heresy that denied Jesus' humanity and focused only on his divinity. It's probably an undercurrent for a lot of Christians today. Lurking in many people's thoughts is the question "Jesus was God, but was he really as human as you and me?" One of the earliest dogmas of the church was to affirm that Jesus was fully human and fully divine, not a half-man/half-God, not one part subservient to the other, but both in their fullness.
The word translated ghost in vv. 37, 39 is pneuma which has various meanings.
1. air in movement, blowing, breathing
2. that which animates of gives life to the body, breath, (life-)spirit
3. a part of human personality, spirit
4. an independent noncorporeal being, in contrast to a being that can be perceived by the physical senses, spirit
5. God's being as controlling influence, with focus on association with humans, Spirit, spirit
6. the Spirit of God as exhibited in the character of God's people or selected agents, Spirit, spirit
7. an activating spirit that is not from God, spirit
8. an independent transcendent personality, the Spirit
My Greek-English lexicon associates meaning 4 with these verses translating it as Ghost and it seems to me from the context and from the disciples' reaction that they thought they were seeing a ghost and that's why Jesus has to eat and let them touch him to prove that he's really alive.
Shalom: Tom in Ontario
The risen Christ is not easy to recognize. When he comes among us we first must hear the proclamation: "Peace be with you." This Shalom is grounded in his suffering and death: "See my hands and my feet." And then he invites us to share with him a meal, like the ones he always shared with his friends, his disiciples, prostitutes and taxcollectors. At that familiar table we recognize him! So again, like the Epistle for last week, we must be ready to "hear, see, and touch" before we can open ourselves to the one who stands in our midst offering us life.
tom in ga
When we come to the table ..... do we bring ourselves to share with others .. as a child the table was a sharing place where the family wanted to hear the days doings... is it as important what we take to the table as to what we take away... living in community is both wanting to go to the table and inviting others to join ..... to take to and to take away from ..... lay pastor in buffalo
I love the way Luke says that "he opened their minds to understand Scripture." Wouldn't it be great if Jesus did that right now for us. I suppose he still can. Look for prayers that are answered and your mind will be opened.
Shalom. I need your help(as usual). I am giving the message at our town gathering for National Day of Prayer. My "well" is still dry from the Easter season and I can't seem to come up with anything! I have spoken before to the community about how we, as Christians, are reguired to participate in maintaining the wellness of community, etc. But nothing seems to be coming to mind this time. Besides prayer--any suggestions!?
Lori in NC
Eating and drinking is the most natural thing we do outside of breathing. We do it so often (and too often) that we do it without thinking about it. And here Jesus eats with his close friends after his resurrection. What a beautiful way to be with them and to know and to experience their lives. We are the witnesses of these things to other people and for the world!
Lori in NC-
You might want to say something about the traditional interfaith/ecumenical nature of such community gatherings and how nice this is at a time when fundmentalists (including in the White House, not just other countries) might want to connect civic life with just one faith (see the NY Times editorial page at the bottom this Sunday). -AEA
"Too Distracted to See" is a title that describes a lot of our lives, I would suspect. I believe that Satan uses the cluttered nature (both literally and figuratively) to distract both the believer and the nonbeliever from catching glimplses of the Risen Christ. The last "Touch by an Angel" show did one of the best jobs I have seen recently to depict how easy it is for evil to appear righteous and the vision of Christ to be obscured by the tragic events of life. Tn Mack
Oops! I thought this was the Road to Emmaus story that proceeds this passage. However, there is a element that the disciples were distracted to the point that they did not recognize Jesus for who he was thinking that he was a ghost. (The spanish for ghost is fantismo I think like a phantom I guess). I think I will stick with my origial title, deal with the lectionary text, and refer to the Road to Emmaus story. TN Mack
In this account of an appearance after his resurrection, Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to understand him as Messiah. Jesus convinces the disciples that he has been raised, and sends them on a mission to proclaim the message of repentance and forgiveness.
This appearance is at least the fourth of the risen Jesus in three Sundays, two having been told last week. Keeping in mind Jesus' predictions of his return while he was still with the disciples, this fourth telling of the resurrection should be entitled "I told you so!" As a matter of fact, Jesus says just that, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you" (implied: words that you neither understood nor heeded). If anyone in the congregation has been listening, or even if someone missed a Sunday, or was away on vacation, no one could miss the fact that "Christ is risen; he is risen indeed!"
But this week's gospel reading gives us better insight into the emotional state of the other disciples while taking the heat off Thomas. These disciples in Luke, too, were "startled," "terrified," and "frightened." And "doubts arose" in their hearts, as well. They, too, required physical proof. Though they did not place their fingers in the marks of the nails, Jesus did have to eat food to prove that he was real and not simply an apparition. Luke even tells us it was a broiled piece of fish, in case any latter-day hearers need that specificity.
So, contrary to what was said last week, maybe there is only one kind of disciple in this world: those who unwittingly follow Jesus; who hear what he says, but do not understand what he means; and who, only after struggling and loss, call to remembrance the saving words of restoration. It is only when we reach that point that we can truly be witnesses of those things and tell our stories that others may come to be disciples.
Lori in NC:
Perhaps something on unity might be an idea for you community prayer gathering. Consider these texts from our propers for Unity: Isaiah 2.2-4; Ephesians 4.1-6; John 17.15-23.
We gather as the people of God to offer our repentance and praise, to pray for the unity of the church and the renewal of our common life. Trusting in God's mercy and compassion, let us ask for the forgiveness of our sins.
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father: Lord have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of pride and intolerance. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, you pardon the sinner and welcome the repentant. Lord, have mercy on us.
May almighty God grant us pardon and peace, strengthen us in faith, and make us witnesses to Christ's love. Amen
God our Father, your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with him as he is one with you, so that in peace and concord we may carry to the world the message of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Pastor G;
You noted your interest in the post resurrection eating stories. When I was an undergrad at Wake Forest our New Testament professor, Dr. Charles Talbert, gave us an expplanation that helped clear the issue. (Talbert is a noted author regarding Luke-Acts. He has several works published. Most recently he authored the Luke commentary for Abingdon Press's "Interpreter's Bible Commentary.")
Talbert says, as Tom in Ontario noted, that the eating process was partly to offset Docetism. In the first century, only humans could or would eat. "Ghosts" and "Spirits" had no need for food. When Luke has Jesus eat in this story, it shows that he is not a ghost or an apperition (sp?). He is fully human, needing food to sustain him. That fact shows that as a human being, he died and was resurrected to life. A quick note of caution, notice in the Emmaeus Road story that Jesus does not eat. He simply breaks the bread and then disappears. The text says that he was at the table, but it never says that he ate with them.
Steve in NC
I am struck, as are most of you, by the "ordinary" in this story- this is breakfast! Big deal. Fry up an egg, pour some juice and get to work. I am treating this story as a reminder of the sacred within the 'ordinary' lives that we live. Didn't Jesus say that we should remember him whenever we get together to eat bread or drink wine? The celebration of the presence of Christ in our lives is not something that happens only in worship or in those 'special' moments (though it is there) or something that happens at the Great Thanksgiving (though it is there too)... it happens daily, in each moment, with each breath.
These 'eating stories' are a reminder to me that Jesus is with me pouring milk on the cereal, dressing the children for school, playing 'hide and go seek' with the neighbor kids, at the church, in the world and a part of my little 'ordinary life.'
To highlight this, we're going to have an ordinary kitchen table and chairs to replace our communion table and it will be set with dishes and all the trappings of a meal, including a bit of bread and wine. No robes, no suits, no fancy ritual... as ordinary as we possibly can.
TB in MN
PS Tom in Ontario... great contribution.... very insightful
In this post Easter experience there is no way to avoid the Cross. It is only through the Cross, only in our Lord's suffering that he is recognized. We must be careful not to preach a disembodied Savior ... so wishful messiah who somehow avoided suffering and captures our illusions.
"While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, "
Is not this our condition. We are filled with joy about something we have absolutely no undersanding about ... not fully able to believe and still questioning in our hearts ....
What does the crucifixion truly mean for us? How are we Cross-formed?
tom in ga
Steve in NC:
Let me get this straight: After our resurrection we will be able to eat as we previously did when we were mortals. Yet, according to other parts of Scripture, our bodies will be eternal and imperishable. Ergo, though we can eat anything we desire, our bodies will not change. I sure hope Heaven has a Krispy Kreme.
DSS
(Another student of Talbert.)
I was stepping away from the Lectionary this week to the Emmaus Road experience. I feel really led to concentrate on how we see and experience Jesus in the breaking of the bread, particularly in celebrating Communion. But after reading some of the great thoughts on this Scripture, I'm thinking about combining the two as I continue with "Visitations."
AEA: As one who serves not only as pastor but also as a newspaper editor -- in the spirit of Karl Barth, I suppose -- I thought I would share with you what our AP Stylebook says concerning the usage of the word "fundamentalist":
"The word gained usage in an early 20th century fundamentalist-modernist controversy within Protestantism. In recent years, however, fundamentalist has to a large extent taken on pejorative connotations except when applied to groups that stress strict, literal interpretations of Scripture and separation from other Christians. In general, do not use fundamentalist unless a group applies the word to itself."
I take two wires here -- Gannett and The AP -- and I have yet to see any indication that anyone serving in the White House meets that criteria. Unless, of course, you mean it purely in the pejorative context. However, that would be equivalent to referring to those who sit on the left side of the aisle in Congress as communists, or at the very least atheists, which would certainly be unfair. Wouldn't you agree?
PastorBuzz in TN
DSS (Another Student)
I guess you'll have to ask "C" Talbert about that. Nothing beats a hot KK with coffee from the original KK on Stratford.
Too many years have passed since I sat in Talbert's class (WFU Class of 82). My memory (and that's a bit foggy at times) of the discussion in Synotic's class is that the point was to prove that this was truly Jesus, the same Jesus that the disciples had known for the past 3 years. It seems to me that the argument concerning our bodies in "Heaven" is something for another time and place. This story was about the reality of Jesus' resurrection.
Wish I could say more, but someone has hidden my notes from Luke/Acts
Steve in NC
I like the idea that our minds have to be opened to understand scripture. I think of people with closed minds as those who think that they already know, or who believe that there is nothing new to know. But in order to understand scripture, we can't assume we already know. We must allow the spirit to open our minds in order to understand. Zen Buddhism calls it "Beginner's Mind".
DGinNYC
To Pastor G,
To answer your question about why there is so much eating post Resurrection:
A theological basis and foundation for Church pot lucks? :-)
O.k. so I am very early in my thought process! :-)
Susan in Wa.
In the time of Christ eating a meal with someone was a sign of acceptance. Do you think Jesus is saying that he accepts us.
JSinTX
For Jesus Eucharist was:
1. A gathering. more than one. "go get the others"
2. A sharing. Companion in latin means "with panis" or sharing bread
3. It was followed by a commission. "After the worship is over, the service begins"
Okay- try #2
I have been thinking about this eating thing. It is through the breaking of bread in the previous story and in the eating of the fish that the disciples "get it"! That the act of sitting and taking in a meal together with God, allows us time to stop and listen. (Hmm- our mouths are full as we eat so we can actually isten better?)
I am thinking about the sacredness of sharing a meal-- a simple thing that we have lost in our fast food world. As my liturgy professor pointed out in seminary- no ritual of life goes unmarked without food. So sharing a meal is in itself a sacred act in which Jesus makes himself known to us?
Shalom, Thanks to the unsigned contributor for the inspiration for the Naitonal Day of Prayer message. I also went on the internet and looked up N.D.ofP. and found some information.
Also want to say the discussion is very interesting this week. The things humanity does not understand are challenging for the preacher. But remember, keep it simple sweetheart.
Lori in NC
Hi, all. I've not contributed anything for several weeks, but have dropped in for inspiration & thought provoking ideas. I'm looking forward to graduation from seminary in a few weeks and then moving to a full-time, NON-student appointment in July. But, meanwhile, there are sermons to write for those I continue to pastor, so I am grateful for the postings here. You all continue to pique my interest and thoughts with your comments, and I thank God for all of you!
Regarding this text, like the unsigned posting of the 27th, I am caught up in the thought of Jesus opening the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures. Perhaps that verse caught my attention because this is the Sunday we are honoring the graduates in the 3 churches I serve. It struck me that understanding is something different than knowledge. We can "know" what Scripture says without understanding how it applies to our own lives. Understanding requires a different kind of "knowledge" than what we gain school. It requires a relationship with Jesus that opens our hearts and minds to the truth of Scripture as it applies to our own, individual & corporate lives.
I'm not sure where these early musings will lead, but I'm thinking of titling my sermon "A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing."
StudentPastor (for a little longer) in Kansas
I have come to appreciate the way the Psalms are used in the New Testament and the early church.Many times we see them from modern biblical critical perspective but this text I believe points us to the fact that the early Christians who would not have had a full printed Bible to carry around to proof text did evidently develop what were called in Latin "catenae" or chains-or strands of scripture(what we call the Old or Older Testament)that seemed prophetical in corresponding with events or words of Jesus, esp. in the crucifixion or resurrection accounts. In this Lukan text I feel that we had an account that Jesus Himself pointed these(and others from the Law and the Prophets)texts as having to do with His Messiahship to His apostles following His resurrection. If this were to be true, and not just some later Christian scribe putting this into His mouth decades later, then I find it exciting. And it also would cause me to look at how the early Christians interpreted such texts in a different light and with more profound appreciation. R/R Ch-Bill
I apologize for being too wordy. Wrong tense in a verb-If in this Lukan account we HAVE not HAD-PS. I totally agree with the above discussion regarding the importance of food and table fellowship-how much more real and alive and personal could the Risen Christ be? Bill
In this reading there is absolutely no "recognition" of the risen Christ. 24:21 simply states that "in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering." Besides that comment the disciples remain passive throughout this reading and we are left with the actions of the Christ: took, ate, opened. Jesus calls them "witnesses" but I am not sure if they have recovered from this whole experience at all. If you see something here that I don't see please let me know.
Jesus asks for something to eat ... they give a piece of broiled fish to him, but this is not revelation as the breaking of the bread is. Many of us have spoken of the importance of table-fellowship but there really is absolutely nothng special in this account.
It seems to me that there is a kind of "stepping back" or withdrawal from the joy of last Sunday regarding the disciples and Thomas.
Is there not some ambivalence in the hearts of the disciples ... they are being draw into something they know not, they remain a little agnostic in this reading, Jesus tries to reveal the Scriptures to them, but their minds aren't fully 'open.'
I am not sure there is any good news here, unless it is with us, who hear the disciples in their disbelief and cry out to them to see what is in their presence. Here they are with Christ appearing to them and they cannot see; and here we are, without the physical presence of Christ before us, at last affirming the resurrection!
tom in ga
I continue to have the idea of seeing Jesus in the breaking of the bread swirling around in my mind. But I'm now wondering what does it mean to "see Jesus?"
We may not see Him with our eyes, but we see Him with our hearts; our Spirit testifies to, and is a witness of, His Spirit; our ears can even hear His voice.
Where do we "see Jesus?"
Mother Theresa told us we can "see Jesus" in the poor. Jesus tells us we can see Him in the hungry, the naked, the imprisoned.
The Emmaus Road experience shows us that he can be seen in the breaking of the bread.
I have the music. I have the image (www.themeadow.org). I even have the title (Seeing Jesus). But until this contribution, I had yet to strike a pen to the page! This a Communion Sunday with a visiting worship team, so we will be heavy on music and light on my words. I guess it's a good thing!
Still, it is my desire that this would be an experience of seeing Jesus, and not hearing me. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Blessings,
PastorBuzz in TN
"The disciples were still passive..."
Yes! They were passive because the active one here is Christ! The active one is still Christ, who works in and through us. Our minds must be opened to understand--Luther's Small Catechism says "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe..."
Yet, we, too, can be active as God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, works through us for the salvation of the world. "How are they to believe if no one tells them?" (paraphrase, I didn't look it up) We are passive for our own salvation, but active for the salvation of others. "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven!"
Michelle
Here's a completely different take. I found a beautiful reflection in the archives of Christian Century on touching. Jesus invites the disciples to touch him, "touch me and see."(verse 39) As contributers this week have noted, this is not the Jesus of Docetism, but the fully human, full divine resurrected Christ. The article explores some of the biblical foundations of "touch." I would like to extend the thought further and conclude a sermon with Jesus' call to reach out and touch others ("You are witnesses of these things.") (verse48) We give "witness" to the resurrected Christ by living out the spiritual reality of the Reign of God in the grittiness of humanity. RC in quebec
Susan in Wa reminds me of a story...
I don't have the story in front of me so I'll just "fake it"... it goes something like this...
Kids in a public school were asked to bring something that represented their faith.
One little girl brought a Star of David and said she was Jewish.
A little boy brought a Dream Catcher because he was Native American.
Another little girl brought a crucifix and told her class she was Catholic.
You can add your own here...
When finally, A little boy walked up to the front of his class. "Hi, my name is Tommy,I'm a United Methodist and this is casserole. ;?)
pulpitt in ND
The preceding pericope is the walk to Emmaus. It is only when Jesus breaks bread that their eyes are opened. The church has long taught us that our eyes are opened whenever we break bread together. Here again is another demonstration. Here again, after Jesus ate the fish, their eyes were opened to understand scripture. (It would have been nice if they all had some fish -- perhaps they did).
Rev. helen in Ontario
Avis in KY:
The verb used in John 20.22 is emphusao meaning breathe on. It contains the root phusao meaning to blow.
Later in that verse when Jesus says "Recieve the Holy Spirit" it is pneuma that is translated Spirit and corresponds to meaning 5 above, God's being as controlling influence, with focus on association with humans, Spirit, spirit.
Shalom: Tom in Ontario
I have strayed off the lectionary for the next 6 weeks - I am doing a sermon series on church growth, while attending to my mother-in-law after surgery. I am looking for some information I cannot find on-line - my library is at home. Does anyone know of a link to a site where I can find a list of the commonly known "Hospitality Laws" or "Acts of Hospitality?"
Thanks PH in MI
The questions in a text are sometimes helpful jumping off points. In this text there are three: 1) Why are you frightened?
2) Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
3) Have you anything here to eat?
These are posed by Jesus to those whom he loved. (I hope they were more than rhetorical, tho' no indication of answers.) The three questions are pretty wonderful to probe personally, but it might take time for (a) clear answer(s) to emerge. The assessment of ourselves with the first two questions can be a real source of insight (opening our minds?). The third question has more than a yes/no answer if we let the question expand itself (some examples: Is there anything around here that I (Jesus) can use to show you I am real? or What do you have for nourishment? or Do you have something that you give to Jesus?)
Then, when the questions have been posed (and answered?) the minds are open for what Jesus teaches and confers.
Aslanclan
I am playing with the idea of meeting Christ as being a mind blowing experience.
1) The Disciples Minds are Blown as They Percieve him as a Ghost (The Resurrection Shifts our Paradigms about God's Grace)
2)The Presence of Christ today (in the Holy Meal) is a Mind Blowing Experience. (Communing with Christ requires a Shift in our Paradigms about His Daily Presence in our Lives and those we kneel with.)
3)Listening to Christ is a Mind Blowing Experience as our Minds are Opened to the meaning of what God has done in his Life, Death, and Resurrection.
I don't think I am going to use this, but a macabe/humorous video to introduce this scene might be one from "An American Werewolf in London" where the dead friend appears to the "infected" friend to tell him what he is in for. Could be some interesting parallels.
Thanks for your ideas.
In Christ's Love,
RevIsrael
Help me out friends, is the assumption that the Emmaus two took all night to travel the seven miles to Jerusalem?
Thanks, ks in ME
ks in ME:
Where do you get that it took them all night? V. 33 says "That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together."
What is perhaps surprising is that Jesus "walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.'"
Thanks to their encounter with Jesus, the Emmaus disciples have glimpsed a new worldview that turns them around 180 degrees. So the disciples go the opposite way. The text says rather blandly that they "returned to Jerusalem." What is more, they don't hurry back with the benefit of a good night's rest. The text says they arose (from a state as good as death, no doubt) that same hour. They were ready to run and proclaim the news in the middle of the night.
Thank you pulpitt in ND for the story/joke about symbols of religion and the casserole. It got a good chuckle out of my husband (who is hard to please with jokes...), and I think I'll use it.
I'm thinking of calling my sermon "Touch and See" and talking about how we need to use our senses more in worshipping God (Presbyterians have way too much emphasis on "the Word". And didn't Martin Luther say something like salvation comes through the ears, not the eyes?) We need to worship and honor God with touch and sight as well... paying attention to body position in prayer (lifting up the hands, kneeling, lowering the head, raising the head etc.), laying on hands to pray for others, passing the peace, Communion and Baptism are all physical acts of worship. Banners, candles, crosses, flowers are all visual images that can help us to worship. And then there's the potluck...
Today our church is participating in the Crop Walk. We could just give money, (and we want people to do that too) but the process of walking, in walking together, something more can happen. Likewise if we sleep in a shelter, we discover God's love in a different way than if we just give money. Jesus invited the disciples to touch and see. Maybe using our senses helps to open our minds.
I'm trying to think of a related symbolic act to do in worship after the sermon. If anyone has any good ideas, please let me know!
DGinNYC
