Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Resurrected Lord: the Co-traveler

Luke 24:13-35
 
But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” 
           
The text today deals with the appearance of the Risen Christ to two men among the extended group of Jesus’ followers on their path to Emmaus. Post-Easter days are a time when Church walks together as these travelers, trying to discern the meaning of the events of resurrection alongside the monotony of our mundane experiences. We may ask ourselves: is there any persuasive reason to believe, that Jesus was really raised from the dead; or that God is present in the turbulences of our lives?

Evening is a time of retreat - a time of the day when we are tired and are rushing back to rest. The disciples are probably getting away from the terrible things they had witnessed in Jerusalem, from their disappointments, from the death threat against the followers of Jesus. They are probably going to escape from the frustrating realities of their life in connection with Jesus, whom they had trusted as they say in Vr 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They want to escape from their feeling of failure and ‘evening’ is a beautiful poetic image to describe all that they are feeling now. The Resurrected one who walks and stays with us through the evenings of our lives is a beautiful and encouraging concept. The risen Lord meets us in the evenings of our lives on our escape routes to Emmaus, in the ordinary paths and experiences of our lives and in the places to which we retreat when life seems to be too hard for us.

This risen Lord comes to us, walks with us and stays with us possibly in unfamiliar guises or even when we least expect him. Towards the end of our text we see them around the table for the evening meal. The Eucharistic language implies that the Church experiences the continuing presence of the risen Lord when it gathers at the Lord’s Table. It is a unique point where our spiritual eyes are opened to the mysterious presence of the risen savior with us even amidst the gloomy evenings of our life. When the darkness deepens around us let us ensure that we are at the warm and intimate table that the Lord sets for us.
 
Prayer
Abide with me fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens Lord with me abide, when other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless O abide with me. Amen

 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“If you want to walk fast, walk alone, but if you want to walk far, walk together.”


Rev Sujith Sam Mammen
Boston Carmel Mar Thoma Church 
       

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more