The Pastor's Sermon - Easter III - 22 April, 2012

"Have you anything here to eat?"

• There are Sundays where we must ask ourselves where grace can be found in the readings. This is how I found myself in preparing for this Sunday's message. The story given to us by Luke the Evangelist is one of astonishment, disbelief, and finally revelation. It is a resurrection story where an appearance of Jesus to his disciples is recounted.
• I think there's something missing. Just before this passage, the appearance of Jesus to two disciples on the road to Emmaus is told. Why that doesn't appear in the Sunday readings this year is not clear, especially since it is such a great story.
• Our reading begins with Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." The passage has been edited and a portion left out, in order that the passage will make sense. If we were to read the verse unedited, it would begin with While they were talking about this... Jesus himself stood among them... So what were they talking about?
• Well, the two disciples who had met Jesus on the road and had invited him in for supper had just hastened to the place where the whole group of disciples had gathered. They were greeted with the new that ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ The two men related their story and while they were talking Jesus stood among them...
• What may strike us is how Jesus reveals himself to his disciples. There is no clap of thunder or earthquake. There is no fanfare or angelic choir. Jesus stands among them and greets them with peace.
• In the case of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, they didn't recognize Jesus even though he explained the Scripture to them, showing them how it applied to him. They only knew him when he broke the bread at the table.
• When Jesus comes into the gathering of the disciples, he greets them with "Peace be with you." He offers them his hands and feet and tells them to touch him to reassure themselves that he is not a ghost.
• As a final proof since the disciples were confused and disbelieving, Jesus asks for something to eat and is given a piece of broiled fish. He eats it in front of everybody. Since ghosts and spirits don't eat while humans with bodies definitely do, this appearances to be the final proof of Jesus' resurrection. Then he opens their minds to understand the entire Scripture. He also commissions them to proclaim his message to all nations as his witnesses.
• These two stories, so closely related, tell us of the resurrection and of the reaction of the disciples. Again, there is no thunder, earthquake, angelic choir, and fanfare. (Compare it sometime to the account of the birth of Jesus in Luke!) What do we see? If we distill the stories a bit, we see:
• People of faith gathered
• Conversation and concern among the disciples
• The study of Scripture
• The sharing of food, whether seen as mundane or sacred
• A mission to share what has been found to be Good News
• Sounds awfully normal, doesn't it?
• Could it possible that among the promises of the Resurrection is the blessing of the everyday, making what we do from sun-up to sun-down holy and blessed?
• Could it be possible that Jesus resurrection is seen and known to us in talking and eating, and in the gathering of Christians?
• Could it be possible that God's grace is available and found where ever Jesus is present?
• I think we all hope and believe so. So then, where is Jesus present?
• The Gospel of Luke tells us that the resurrection of Jesus is revealed in the meeting of disciples, in the breaking of the bread, and in the sharing of the story of Jesus. Of course, Jesus is present in so many other ways, but these are the most available ways we all have and agree upon.
• So let us rejoice in the simple things that show us the presence and the grace of Jesus. These are simple things that we can readily share with others. These are also simple ways to share the Good News with all who are in need of it.
• With our celebration of the Resurrection, all our days can become holy days, all our actions can become holy actions, and all our encounters with others can become encounters with the Resurrected Jesus.

"Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see... You are witnesses of these things.”