Luke 24:13-35 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, April 26.
*please note: Luke in vs. 20 clarifies that it was not "the Jews" who killed Jesus, but THEIR chief priests and leaders with Rome (empire). Anti-Jewish polemicists need to sit down. This was a particularly corrupt time and place for the Temple Cult Leaders and not a universal truth across the ages, much like the Protestant Reformation which took place during a particularly corrupt period and place in Catholic history, and cannot accurately or faithfully be used to de-value the Catholic faith. Empire corrupts political, social and religious institutions by corrupting its leaders - NOW as then.
Now, on to the heart of the matter -
They knew the story. According to Luke's Gospel, they lived it.
Jesus interpreted it for them, in the context of the Law and Prophets and current realities.
Their hearts were burning as Jesus shared what the Good News meant.
And their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread, and they recognized Him.
That's how it is with the Good News, the fulfillment of Law and Prophets in the New Covenant of Jesus based on Agape Love and Grace. It burns in our hearts.
That's how it is with the sharing of God's Grace, here in a sacramental reference. It opens our eyes.
Word and Sacrament.
Proclaiming the Good News of Agape Love.
Sharing God's Grace with one another.
It is in this that we know Jesus, and in this that our hearts burn with love, hope and faith.
The Gospels are our source.
The writers of these Gospels have provided us with an account of Jesus' life, ministry, teachings, commands and examples for how we are called by God to live.
The Holy Spirit of God moves us in them, always pointing to Christ Jesus and His Agape Love and Grace as OUR WAY of living in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
What Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as God's Way for us to live our lives, is a better way than empire's way of greed, lust for power and desire for status above others, which is the way of merit as defined by those who have the power, wealth and status.
Jesus' Way brings us to the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable - see Lk. 10:25-37).
Jesus' Way brings us to the living of Grace with one another (undeserved loving mercy, given freely).
Jesus' Way of Agape and Grace is based on our need and God's Agape and Grace for us, as well as the needs of those around us and God's Agape and Grace for them given through us.
Jesus' Way builds up, unites, creates community and provides Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being) for all, equally.
The empire way tears down, divides, destroys community and eliminates/prevents Shalom for most, for the benefit of only the few.
What burns in your hearts? Is it Jesus' Good News Way of being children of God in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, or the greed, lust for power and desire for personal status of empire?
In what do you know Jesus? In what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as we have witness in the Gospels, or some re-created version of Jesus by empire?
I know Jesus in the sharing of Grace.
I know Jesus in the Good News of living Agape Love in the world around me.
My eyes have been opened to Jesus' Way, as I have learned it in the Gospels.
My heart burns with a desire to live Jesus' Good News Way of Agape Love and Grace in the world around me, here and now, knowing that it is a better, more just and equitable, sustainable way for the world in which I live.
*(My new, current writing exercise is an exploration of a number (12 or 13) Imperatives of Jesus in the Gospels, how they are a fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, and how they are applied in the First Century church and expounded upon by the Epistles of that time. As always, my hope is to make the case for living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as God's Way for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.)
*(I am currently (since March 22) offering devotion videos on Sundays, in which I explore how the 1st Century followers of Jesus in Acts lived what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, and how it changed the world around them - see the People of the Way of Jesus Facebook page.)
How do you know Jesus?
What burns in your heart?
Pastor Jamie
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