Reading: Psalm 105, verses 40 and 41
Song: Hills of the North, Rejoice.
Hills of the North, Rejoice (Tune: Little Cornard - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube
Reading: Luke’s gospel. Chapter 24, verses 13 to 35
23rd April was St George’s day. St George is the patron saint of England. We know little of him. Traditionally, he was a Roman officer of Greek descent. Apparently martyred for refusing to recant his Christian faith in 303A.D. His martyrdom was witnessed by the empress, who became a Christian, and was in her turn martyred.
According to Legend, he killed a dragon at Silene in Libya, a story immortalised on the reverse of the gold sovereign coin.
Song: When a knight won his spurs
When A Knight Won His Spurs - YouTube
As we approach the month of May, this year in the U.K. there will be three bank holidays; the usual two, on the first and last Mondays, and an extra one to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. This will inevitably mean that there will be much extra traffic on the roads as people take their days off. It remains to be seen how the systems will cope with this extra demand, but there are roads which I shall be avoiding on those days!
Several stories in Luke’s gospel have roads as their backdrop. Among them; Mary and Joseph, The good Samaritan, the prodigal son, Jesus’ road to Jerusalem, and today’s story, the road to Emmaus. Luke continues this theme in the Acts of the Apostles, with Saul on the road to Damascus, and Paul’s subsequent journeys.
Roads and journeys obviously feature in Luke’s literary and theological style. Roads bring people together and fire their imaginations.
This story has everything; Drama, Irony, Misunderstanding, Bringing together, Friends, Hospitality and a Conclusion.
For today, the church is on a journey and Jesus is alongside us: how often do we not recognise him?
The disciples are leaving Jerusalem and are walking 7 miles to Emmaus. We are not told why Emmaus. Perhaps to get out of the way? To wait until the heat has died down, and it is safe to re-emerge? Was there what we would today call a “safe house”? We can surmise that small groups of disciples travelled out of the city in different directions for such reasons. Perhaps like in the film “The Great Escape” where small groups of escapees set off in different directions, hopefully to avoid detection.
They were grieving. Talking among themselves, trying to make sense of the events of the past few days. They were disillusioned, that Jesus, the man who they had thought had come to save them, was dead. Failed.
Jesus joined them. Without drama, no fanfare and enters their conversation. We are told that their eyes were kept from recognising him. Luke does not tell us how this was achieved, but Jesus used this time to ask them what they were talking about. Perhaps this is a demonstration of his mischievous side. But, their scorn burns through the centuries “Are you the only person in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened?” “Everybody know!”
But their hopes had been dashed. “We had hoped.” Jesus starts with Moses and the prophets and showed them that he had to suffer, and die, so that he could be lifted up into glory.
They offered hospitality. Their new friend joins them, and becomes the host. He blesses the bread, breaks it and shares it. And they recognise him.
Dashed hopes restored, Jesus has changed everything. At an everyday table, he has made all things new
Jesus shares tables with all sorts of people. He breaks down barriers. He walks with them, and with us.
Song: And did those feet in ancient time,
Jerusalem, the Anthem, with simultaneous lyrics - YouTube
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