April 18, 2021

First Lutheran Church

April 18, 2021 + The Third Sunday in Easter (B)

 

Luke 24:36b-53

 

36bJesus himself stood among [the disciples] and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence.

  

44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.”

 

49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

 

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

 

 

Sermon

“Encounter, Explain, Eat, Enlighten, Exit”

Pastor Greg Ronning

 

Today’s appointed Gospel for the Third Sunday in Easter tells us the story of how the risen Christ suddenly appears to the disciples, - terrifying them as if he were a ghost.  In that moment the disciples are filled with doubts and fears.  However, Jesus speaks a word of peace, reveals his wounds, eats some fish, opens up the scriptures to them, and inspires them to faith.  And then he departs, as mysteriously as he appeared, “carried up into heaven.”

 

The pattern in today’s Gospel story might sound familiar to you, in fact the same pattern is found in the story that precedes today’s story, the “Emmaus Road” story.  (I would argue that they are actually the same story told in two parts!) Professor Lucy Lind Hogan, of Wesley Theological Seminary, names the pattern repeated in these verses; “Encounter, Explain, Eat, Enlighten, and Exit.”

 

The pattern begins, in the preceding verses, with two disciples traveling down the road to Emmaus after the death of Christ.  They are lost in deep despair, wandering away in confusion, mourning the death of Jesus.  They have heard the women’s report that Jesus has risen from the death but believe it to be nothing more than “an idle tale.”  As they journey down this road, they “encounter” a stranger, who joins them in the journey.  In their grief, in their despair, in their confusion, they do not recognize that the stranger is actually Jesus.  As they travel down the road the stranger “explains” how the tragic events of the last few days, the death of Jesus, is connected to the holy scriptures and the promises of God.  As the day of traveling ends, the disciples invite the stranger to stay with them.  And as they share a meal, as they “eat” together, as they practice hospitality, their eyes are opened up and Jesus is made known to them.  Suddenly they become “enlightened,” all the words spoken by the stranger come to life and burn in their hearts.  Their faith finds that moment of understanding, it becomes real.  And then, in an instant, Jesus “exits.” 

 

The Gospel of Luke describes what happens next, “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.”

 

And that’s where today’s Gospel reading begins, and we discover the same pattern repeats itself, “Encounter, Explain, Eat, Enlighten, and Exit.”

 

As the disciples sit gathered together, discussing stories of the risen Jesus, suddenly they actually “encounter” Jesus, he appears standing before them.  They are confused and afraid, terrified and filled with doubt, they do not understand what is happening.  They think he is a ghost!  Jesus then begins to “explain,” he shows them his wounds, he bears witness to the resurrection.  And then, as he did in Emmaus, he “eats” a piece of fish. He is not a ghost, he is alive.  And slowly but surely the disciples become “enlightened,” their minds are opened up to the promises of scripture, the word of God made alive.  And they are transformed, they are made ready for the coming of the Spirit; they are ready to bear witness to the resurrection, to the good news of the gospel, the forgiveness of sin and life abundant and everlasting.  And then Jesus leads the disciples out to Bethany, he blesses them, and he “exits” into the heavens.

 

“Encounter, Explain, Eat, Enlighten, and Exit.”  A repeating pattern in the Twenty Fourth Chapter of Luke, and a pattern still repeating even today; the reoccurring pattern of faith, and the story of our faith.

 

It always begins with the “Encounter.”  Each and every day “Jesus” is present seeking out an encounter with each of us.  Motivated by grace and love, God in Christ Jesus, is out there, hoping and waiting to be discovered.  The problem is that we, more often than not, are not aware of the divine presence.  We miss understand the encounter.  And perhaps we’re afraid of a true encounter with Jesus!  In our busyness - we don’t take the time to really look, in all the noise - we don’t hear the still small voice, and in all the distractions - we are looking in the wrong places.  More often than not, we are somehow deaf and blind to the very thing we desire. 

 

Yet God is relentless, and blessed by the Spirit we are gathered up, and offered a variety of opportunities for an “explanation.”  We are gathered together in worship with the risen Christ.  And in the hearing of scripture and the Word preached, the good news proclaimed, the promises and the presence of God is “explained.” We gather in small groups, sharing in scripture and sharing our own experiences, and in this good work, in holy conversations, the Spirit begins to “explain,” opening up our minds and our hearts to the love of God.  In these moments of “explanation” the work of transformation begins, our sense of identity and mission become clear.  Our faith is seeking understanding, and our understanding comes to faith.

 

And then we move from our minds seeking “explanation” into an embodiment of the experience;  We “eat,” we share in the meal, we “eat” with others, we practice hospitality.  We gather around the altar, the table of Christ, and Jesus is present in bread and wine, and in the sharing of this meal we become the body of Christ.   We gather to experience the truth of the psalmist, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  In bread and wine, bread and wine received in faith, we experience the unconditional sacrificial love of God.  And we remember, we re-member, we are made whole, we are made holy.  And after this meal, we practice what we have received, opening our doors to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity, to our neighbors who need more than just a can a food, but also a heart eager to serve.

 

And in all this “enlightenment” happens.  Suddenly we see Jesus, present in our life together, present in “the least of these” that we serve, present in scriptures suddenly becoming the Word made alive in our hearts.  Present in the love that we share with each other, and the love that we share with the world.  Our eyes are opened up and our hearts are set on fire, we understand who we are and what we are all about, we are saved and we are empowered to save others.

 

And then, this time, the “exit” belongs to us, as we step out in faith into the world as bold witnesses to the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.

 

“Encounter, Explain, Eat, Enlighten, and Exit.”  This is the story of the Easter Gospel, the story of faith, the grace filled story of our faith.  May the story be repeated in - with – and through each of us and in our life together.  Amen.

 

 

Easter Sunday - April 4, 2021

First Lutheran Church / The Table

April 4, 2021 + Easter Sunday B

 

Mark 16:1-8 1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

Sermon “Rise Up To New Life”

 

This year’s appointed Gospel reading for Easter comes from The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.  And Mark’s account of that first Easter morning is at first glance a little “underwhelming.”  Like the rest of the Gospel of Mark, it’s short and to the point.  And perhaps strangely, unlike the other gospels, there is no mention of the risen Christ appearing to his followers.  All we get is “a young man dressed in a white robe” announcing to the women who have come to tomb, that Jesus has risen and will meet up with everyone in Galilee.  Mark’s Gospel, the Easter morning story according to Mark, then abruptly ends with the women fleeing the tomb, “for terror and amazement had seized them.”  And they say, “nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”  There is no great Easter proclamation in Mark.

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, we get an earthquake, an angel rolling the stone away, the appearance of Jesus, and the great commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

 

In the Gospel of Luke, we get two men in dazzling clothes, the empty tomb and the left behind linen clothes.  Jesus appears on the Emmaus Road, and then again to the disciples in Jerusalem.  And finally in Bethany, in glory he ascends into the heavens.

 

And in the Gospel of John, we get the sentimental story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus in the garden outside the tomb, Jesus appears to the disciples who are hiding behind locked doors, and finally another whole chapter that tells the story of Jesus appearance to the disciples fishing on the Sea of Tiberias.

 

But today, in the Gospel of Mark, we just get the bare bones; the announcement that Jesus has risen and will meet his followers in Galilee.  We don’t get a feel-good story, we don’t get a faith-filled witness to the resurrection, we don’t get any certitude, we’re left in the midst of doubt and fear; all we get is the invitation to travel to Galilee and to find Christ there. 

 

Mark doesn’t finish his Easter story, but from all other accounts, we know that the disciples did in fact travel back to Galilee, back to the place where their life with Jesus began.  And once they got back, they realized that everything had changed.  In fact, they discovered there was no way to “really go back” to Galilee! 

 

I imagine they might have had thoughts of going back to the way things used to be, back to the old routines, back to the old vocations, back to fishing.  But when they get back, at least according to the plan in Mark’s gospel, that’s when and where they discovered the risen Christ.  And back in Galilee, after the encounter with the risen Christ, they too “rise up” and a new chapter in their life begins.  And it is a chapter that will change the world.  The kingdom they had discovered in Jesus was now alive inside of each of them, and it was compelling them to go out into all the earth and proclaim the good news of the Gospel, all that they had learned, seen, hoped and experienced in Christ Jesus.  They went back to Galilee, perhaps to learn and to discover that there was - no going back, only going forward in the new risen life of Jesus.

 

So where will we end up going after this Easter morning is over and done?  What will happen when we get back to our “Galilee?”  Will we learn and discover that there is “no going back?”  Will we be compelled and embolden by the risen life, to start something new?  Will the kingdom we discovered in Jesus become suddenly and dramatically and wonderfully alive in us?  Will all things become new?  Where will we end up going after this Easter morning is over and done?

 

Lately, as the COVID-19 pandemic seems to finally be coming to some kind of end, I find myself talking hopefully about life, “returning back to normal.” Here at the church, we find ourselves talking about “returning back” to in-person worship.  Yet as I sit here on Easter morning, as I ponder the Easter gospel, as I ponder those first disciples returning to Galilee, I am wondering if we need to be careful about the language that we use to talk about what might come next, what might come next after this Easter, what might come next after this pandemic is finally over.  Will we be returning back to the way things used to be, or have we been changed, will we be coming back together again to begin something new?  Has the pandemic simply been time off, or perhaps more of a death and life, resurrection experience?

 

This past year has been hard and difficult.  And while there are so many things about his past year that I want to forget and leave behind, there are a few things that I hope I will remember, a few things that I have learned that I will want to keep integrated into my life. 

 

You see, on one level, for me, this past year has been one really big values clarification activity.  In the process of giving some things up and having lots of time on my hands to reflect, I have been able to clarify what is really important to me.  The pandemic has afforded me the opportunity to put some things clearly into perspective.  

 

In my personal life I have come to more fully appreciate my relationships with family and friends.  I have become more aware of how valuable my time is, and how I want to spend it.  In short, I am more aware of the things that are truly important to me, and the things that are not, which things in life I want to cling to and which things I am ready to let go. 

 

When it comes to the life of the church, I am more aware of how important it is to have a clear sense of mission.  I love and I miss our fellowship, and I look forward to gathering together again, but I realize it is our mission that truly keeps us together.  It is our mission that has kept us together this past year. 

 

This past year has been hard and difficult, yet “in all these things” I have also been re-fined and re-formed, humbled and inspired, tested and made strong.  The Spirit has been at work, and so it is that even in death I have found resurrection.  And so, as this time of pandemic comes to an end, I do not want to “return to normal,” “return to in-person worship,” “return to old patterns,” I really don’t want to “return” to anything.  I want to start something new, begin again, - rise up to new life!  I am ready to come back to “Galilee” not to “return to old patterns” but to begin a new chapter in my life, and in our life together.

 

The Easter story found in the Gospel of Mark is actually my favorite version.  I like it precisely because it does not have any of the “feel good endings” you find in the other gospels.  I like it because it comes to us – unfinished!  I like it because it compels us to finish the story.  Mark leaves us hanging in the balance, amazed and in terror at the same time, dealing with all our doubts and fears, facing the unknown of that trip back to Galilee.  The “finished” story is nice, but it doesn’t meet me where I find myself living these days, it doesn’t meet me on the other side of the pandemic, it doesn’t compel me to begin a new adventure into the unknown, it doesn’t meet me where my faith is seeking new understanding.

 

As this Easter morning comes to an end, and as we face the new day that is tomorrow, let us remember that the Galilee we knew in the past is no longer there.  We will not be “returning to normal,” but rather coming back together to enter more deeply into the resurrected life.   Let us remember and cling to St. Paul’s promise found in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with Christ in a resurrection like his.” 

 

I am excited to travel back to “Galilee,” not to live in the past, but to encounter the newly risen Christ.  I am excited to gather together again in person to begin the next chapter in our life together. I am excited to discover how the kingdom we experienced in Jesus yesterday, will rise up in, with, and through, us tomorrow. 

 

I would like to conclude this morning, with the prayer I shared with you one year ago.  At that time, we were just beginning to understand the true implications of the pandemic that was before us.  Today the prayer is just as relevant, as the pandemic begins to fade and the journey back to “Galilee” and our risen life with Christ is about to begin again.

 

Let us pray.  Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Christ is risen!

Christ it risen indeed!

Alleluia!