 The story of the disciples experience on the Emmaus Road is one of hope and encouragement for all of us. Exhausted, overwhelmed, physically and emotionally drained Cleopas and one of the other disciples have begun their long walk home. Unable to see the wood for the trees, they try as they go, to make sense of all that has happened over the past few days. It all feels too hard however, and the news that the tomb is empty and that Jesus has risen might actually be true is just too much to hope for. In the hour of their confusion Jesus joins them on their journey and leads them to a place where they can once more understand how God is at work in their lives. Eyes opened and filled with new hope they rush back to Jerusalem and share the good news with the others. Their encounter with the risen Jesus is good news for us too. In those times when the journey is difficult and life is hard to understand, Jesus is there for us too bringing words of hope and life. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff hey comfort me. Psalm 23:4 Till next time….Andrew.  In every worship service, the words we say and the actions we participate in are somehow shaping us. Perhaps without even being aware of it, worship is doing something to us – it’s forming habits and language inside of us to both teach us why we are in relationship with God, and how to be in relationship with God. One practice that many liturgists and hymn authors have brought into worship is describing an event that happened in the past (usually a moment from the Gospel story) as if it were happening today, in order to instill in us the understanding that, just as God worked in the lives of people two thousand years ago, He is still working today.
Charles Wesley’s hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” is a perfect example of this. Right in the title is an indicator of the present tense: the word “is.” As we sing this song, we are first brought back two millennia as “witnesses” of the resurrection, and then we are also made aware that though the actual event of the resurrection happened once, it is in a sense an on-going event with ever-present effects. We are called today to live out of the resurrection, to follow our risen Lord in newness of life, and to ever lift our “alleluias” in praise. Have a blessed and holy Easter….Andrew. This week’s enlighten comes from hynary.org. © used with permission  This week’s reading from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians reminds us of what true love is all about. This week we remember Jesus ultimate sacrifice of love as in obedience to his heavenly father he puts aside his heavenly Glory and takes the sinfulness of all humanity across all of time upon his shoulders and dies. In this one selfless act of love, sin and death are defeated. and the world is changed forever.
For all those who will dare to believe and put their trust in him, new life has been won and the only response can be praise and wonder, joy and worship. St Paul’s charge to the early church and to us is to; “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” Phillippians 2:5 , In perfect love and obedience we are called to follow Jesus example of faithfulness, obedience and love, for God has exalted Him to the very highest place and given him the name that is above every name. “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ Philippians 2:11 Till next time….Andrew.  So far in each week of Lent we have talked about what it is that we need to offer up to God. The good news of this weeks lectionary is that no matter how difficult and hopeless life may seem, our God is a God of hope. When his children cry out to him to him in faithfulness he hears their prayers, is compassionate and merciful and breathes new life. Yes, even death itself is no barrier to the loving goodness of our heavenly Father. Albeit a valley of dry bones, a sorrowful grave or the desert of sinful human hearts, the giver of life will not be defeated. In fact he loves us so much that he became one of us and in the ultimate act of his life has given his love to set us free! To him be Glory forever. Amen. Till next time….Andrew. |
Rev. Andrew SmithVicar of Light in the Hills |