Sunday, April 23, 2023

Third Sunday of Easter

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
– Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
– Second Reading: I Peter 1:17-23
– Gospel Reading: Luke 24:13-35

The liturgical color for the day is: White

Things get lost in the blur these days.  No wonder, our heads are down and we are preoccupied.  With them on the road, we need to get our heads up and join in the conversation that Jesus wants to have with us now.  The challenge then remains the challenge now—to focus on where God is leading rather than be blurred by our own preoccupation.

What is it that keeps us/them from recognizing Jesus?  There was a lack of imaginative capacity to see the Living Christ among them. Nothing has changed.  We need to unblock our capacity to see the Living Christ with us, here, along the way…yes, even here!

“Were not our hearts burning within us…”  It takes that looking back in order to see and claim the truth.  If we only deal in the moment, our information is incomplete.  We need to reflect, look back, contemplate, pray.  In looking back they were able to push past the surface expectations and get to the truth that would give life to their souls.  Such truth was (and is now!) that not only did God have all of it but God was moving in such a way that they could trust this, recognize it, and let it be the fire that propelled them forward as disciples of Jesus.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk