INTRODUCTION
Good morning everyone, happy St George’s Day and I hope you are all well and full of joy and hope during this Easter season. Today’s gospel reading is from Luke and tells of the meeting with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. The intercessions are by Mark Pearson and the reflection by myself.
God bless, Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed Alleluia
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us new life and hope by raising Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own. He has made us a light to the world.
Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
Jesus Christ, risen master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weaknesses and unbelief.
We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.
We lived by the light of your own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy forgive us. Lord, help us and hear us.
We have lived for this world alone and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, Help us and hear us, Amen.
May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit all our days. Amen.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING
1 PETER 1. 17-23
If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you O Lord.
LUKE 24. 13-35
On that same day, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ Jesus asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see Jesus.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
Today’s story took place only three days after Jesus’ death and these two people who we know are Cleopas and one another were walking to Emmaus. This is a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem, not very far from all that had happened, but hopefully far enough to keep them safe from those who were persecuting them, we would assume that it was two men but some theologians think it may have been his wife, perhaps they lived in Emmaus, they were certainly familiar with where they were going as they asked him to join them for food and shelter.
The stranger (Jesus) interpreted the scriptures and prophecies for them and put them right about all that had happened and still they did not realise it was Jesus but as soon as he broke the bread, as he did during the last supper, their eyes were opened to his identity, that simple act, that means that they were either at the last super with him or they had seen him do this before. They look back on the whole encounter and realise that the burning feeling they had in their hearts was not fear but the fact that they were in the presence of God. Some theologians think that Cleopas’ wife was called Mary so could it be that they had indeed been with the disciples during that last supper?
After this it is said that they ran back to tell the disciples, they were still in Jerusalem, and it is then that Jesus appears to them as in last week’s reading and Thomas doubts the resurrection of the Lord. So, these readings are the wrong way round chronologically but what does it tell us and how can we interpret this story why is it significant?
My thoughts after doing a little research on various opinions are that 1. The people following Jesus then, are no different than our own Christian families, we experience many things in our lives, disappointment, rejection, wanting to give up but turn to each other for advice, support and love. Within our family we sort things out by sharing together and in the story the disciples gather together to share and work out what to do next. 2. Jesus had concentrated his work and spreading the word of the Lord in what we now call the Holy land, originally the Israelites came out of Egypt to find that Holy land and now Jesus wants a new Exodus to go out throughout the world on a new journey out of their comfort zone, to travel to new countries and spread the faith 3. The breaking of bread was highly significant, He invites us to know Jesus by the breaking of bread and although Jesus is not physically with us he is with us spiritually in the sacrament of Holy Communion and in the scriptures, so we don’t need to see him, it is all there for us and today we need to share in this sacrament.
Lastly they too were on a journey, they encountered Jesus and their destination and their lives changed, many people start a journey, plan it out, but feel called to do something else and change their life journey, it may be called to ministry, helping out in the community, getting involved in charity work or just coming back to church or prayer, follow what you think God is calling you to do and keep him close by prayer.
Our journeys are not straight forward but with the support we can get from our faith it will guide us through.
Amen. Jan B.
THE CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father; he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONS
Here we pray for the church, for the world, those in need and those who have died, you can follow your own prayers or these below on today’s theme.
Father, we praise you for every opportunity we are given to meet together for worship, fellowship and praise. We praise you for your promise that whenever we meet in the name of Christ you will be in the midst of us and that your almighty presence will make us whole. We praise you for the way you came to the disciples when they most needed your presence and when they least expected it. When they walked on the road to Emmaus, you came and gave them burning hearts in place of their despair. Father, we praise you for your promise to be with us always, even to the end and beyond. We praise you for those times when we have been lost and alone, when we have been uncertain and afraid, when we have been filled with despair and you have come to us. You have come and given us new hope, peace and joy. You have not promised that you will always remove every problem or take away every pain but you have promised to be with us and to share our journey of life and faith. We praise you for the new life that Christ has made possible and for his coming to live in our hearts and lives. We ask that you will fill us with the Holy Spirit so that our worship may be worthy of you.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Creator God, your son walked the roads and tracks of the Holy Land and taught us to seek your hand in the beauty and wonders of the earth, sea and sky. We so often see too much of the poor stewardship in our surroundings and it is easy to forget that the world belongs to you. Help us to recognise your presence in our modern world and to use more wisely the resources of the earth.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Father God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Saviour, who walks with us on life’s journey. We pray for all who travel with us in our family, among our friends and within our community. We pray for a deepening awareness of our need for one another
and of your image in the hearts of everyone we meet.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Loving God, send your son to walk with those we know who are going through a time of suffering and pain. Help us to always be aware of one another’s needs and to respond accordingly and assist them with words and deeds onto the road of recovery. We pray for
Rev Peter Reiss, Thomas Causton and Joe Gande.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, accompany those travelling through the valley of death. May our love and prayers support those who walk that journey today. We pray for those recently departed and we remember those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Arthur Bernard Lloynd, Joyce Dickenson, Elizabeth Ormerod, Annie Entwistle and Arthur Kilner.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Faithful God, as we go from our worship today, out into your world, we thank you for walking alongside us wherever we travel. If like those first disciples, we fail to be aware of you, forgive us for our human weakness and open our eyes to see you as a constant companion and friend.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
May Christ who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future, fill us with his new life and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us now and for evermore. Amen.
