St Nicholas

Dear Friends!

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In this Easter season we proclaim, ‘Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed’, and in the story of the “Walk to Emmaus’ we see four ways that two disciples encountered the risen Lord, and in which we might also recognise him today.

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These two disciples were slow to recognise him, as we often are too. Let’s see what we might learn from them. On that first Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead, these two disciples left the others and walked away from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a small town about 7 miles west.  As they walk, they are discussing the events of the past few days, and they are sad and downcast.

 

Jesus comes alongside them and listens to them tell of the recent events that have taken place, of a prophet Jesus who was crucified; how some women had found the tomb empty, and seen angels, but found no body. But they do not recognise the risen Jesus.

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This first encounter with the risen Jesus is through silence. Jesus listens to their story. Although Jesus knew the events better than they did, he doesn’t interrupt or correct, he listens, he lets them talk. Perhaps that’s what they needed.  God in Christ is always there for us, to listen to us. It is often in pouring our hearts out to God that we find his presence with us and his peace.

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The second way they encountered the risen Jesus was through the Scriptures. As they walk Jesus explains to them the Scriptures that point to himself and his suffering as the way to glory. They knew about Jesus’ life and work and death, but it was when the Scriptures were opened to them that they felt something within their hearts.   Friends, if we wish to grow in knowledge of the risen Lord Jesus, we need to read the Scriptures regularly.

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The third way they encountered the risen Jesus was in the Sacrament of bread broken.  As they sat down to eat, Jesus ‘took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them’. These actions must have been very familiar to Jesus’ disciples and were the ones he enacted at the Last Supper, giving them as a lasting remembrance, which we do in each Holy Communion service. As soon as Jesus did this, their eyes were opened, and they recognised who it was! Everything fell into place, now they knew and understood that Jesus was alive!

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Let each of us say, Come Lord Jesus, dwell in me and send your Holy Spirit that I may be filled with your presence. Amen. It was only when the two disciples recognised Jesus that the fourth encounter was understood. It was the Spirit who opened their eyes and warmed their hearts.  Good News is always for sharing! Our steps of growing in faith and recognizing Jesus will be different to these two disciples, but as we look back in our lives we may see how God has been with us; how he has been there listening to us as we passed through times of sadness and struggle, how we encountered him in those who have walked with us in life for a while, in understanding the Scriptures, and through receiving the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism.

 

Peace be with you,

Fr Christo