Foretaste of the Sermon to Come

A little nibble of the Revised Common Lectionary

Sunday’s scriptures are Acts 2:14a, 36–41, 1 Peter 1:17–23, Luke 24:13–35

My week usually feels like the Road to Emmaus. Sunday is when I see the Lord in Word and Sacrament, when my “heart burns within me,” full of the Holy Spirit received in the scriptures, in preaching and in the bread and wine. My eyes are opened and and I recognize Jesus, just where he promised he’d be.

And then the alarm goes off Monday morning. I want to stay in bed and pull the covers over my head. I feel groggy and disoriented, even with coffee. Sunday feels far away, and I can feel my heart moving far away too. But, I try to be of good courage and get myself going. I have moments where I see the Lord, like right now I am in his Word, reading about Cleopas and his buddy’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus. I was with other Christians in Manna Bible Study a couple of hours ago, talking about the scriptures in what may be the same way Jesus talked with these 2 travelers. I’ve always wished Luke would have expounded on how Jesus, “beginning with Moses an all the Prophets, interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Now that would be a Bible Study! And tomorrow I’ll be with an even bigger group of Christians studying Genesis. Those are good days.

But much of the week I am busy hanging my sins around Jesus’ neck, wanting what I shouldn’t and not recognizing what I have.  My weeks can be routine, and if there is excitement it’s usually not the kind I welcome.  My heart can definitely wander far away from Jesus.  In our reading in Acts, Paul tells the significance of Jesus’ life and work, and promises forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus’ promises are for “all who are far off.”  My prodigal heart leaps for joy when it hears this promise, and wanders a little closer in. 

And then it’s Sunday Morning again! The Lord is revealed in the breaking of the bread and in the cup, and in the scriptures and the preached word, and in the hearts of my brothers and sisters in Christ. My heart once again burns and I’m ready to start traveling again. Thanks be to God!