Greetings!
It is May! I’m looking forward to some warmer temperatures, April was still a little chilly! It is May and we have just celebrated the greatest day of the year, Easter. The day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and has given us life everlasting!
We are still in this “Eastertide”. the time between Easter and Pentecost (which is in June this year), and Jesus appears to his disciples from Easter Sunday until his ascension to heaven. My favorite passage of Jesus appearing to the Disciples after his resurrection is from Luke 24, “The Walk to Emmaus”. You know the story, right? Two disciples are walking from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus on the day Jesus was resurrected. They were talking, Jesus himself joined them on the road and walked with them. The disciples seemed surprised when Jesus asked what they were talking about and their reply was hadn’t he heard what had happened in Jerusalem the past couple of days? After all, wasn’t he coming from Jerusalem as well? They told him the whole story from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to his body not being in the tomb. Then Jesus takes over the conversation and interprets the scriptures that were about him. They arrived in Emmaus and the disciples invited their companion to eat with them. Jesus stayed and, “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 him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, were our hearts not burning within us while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:31-33). Then they got up and hurried back to Jerusalem to report to the other disciples that they had seen the Lord.
I am reminded in this passage that Jesus appears when we least expect it! Sometimes I don’t realize that it is Jesus until I’m down the road a bit and looking back. I also think of this passage every time I take the bread, bless and break it, that I need to open my eyes and see Jesus. The Holy is everywhere! Are our eyes open? Do we see Jesus?
As the trees unfold their leaves and the flowers burst out with beautiful blooms, Jesus is there. As we hear children crying and laughing Jesus is there. As we visit hospitals, homes, and nursing care facilities, Jesus is there. As we gather with family, Jesus is there. As we come to the table to break bread, Jesus is there.
May we always keep our eyes open so that we may see Jesus wherever we may be.
Shalom,
Pastor Mona
The First United Methodist Church of Owosso, Michigan is a Christian church dedicated to reaching the lost and helping the saved move toward spiritual maturity. Join us for service this Sunday at 10:00 am.
