EASTER d365.org - RISEN!!!

INVOCATION....  (d365.org - Gina Yeager-Buckley)

Hope! That is the central element of the Easter story. In the resurrection of Jesus we are given hope and the assurance that death cannot and will not win.

Make yourself ready then—again—to be overtaken by the magnificent good news that Jesus is alive, risen to glory.

Allow the truth of his life to take on new life within your heart.

SATURDAY, April 26
Luke 24:36-43 MSG

While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, “Don’t be upset, and don’t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscle and bone like this.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

41-43 He asked, “Do you have any food here?” They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

    The disciples must have been terrified and excited all at once.  What a confusion of emotions.  And Jesus is incredibly patient in allowing them time to digest his presence.  Sometimes we must take baby steps in acknowledging and accepting the love of God. 

    This comes full circle back to my sermon for tomorrow on Living Waters.  I am using the scribble and poem I wrote, talking about the Water of Life as a cascading fountain (Romans 5:3-5), the steps we work through of hardship, patience, character, and ultimately, hope.  Transformation doesn't usually happen all at once with a sudden Superman moment in the phone booth.  Acceptance often comes slowly as well.  

     May we know and accept the love and peace of God each and every day.  

FRIDAY, April 25
Luke 24:32-35 GNT

They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others 34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!”

35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.

How do I recognize my Lord?

Where are the God signs along my way?

Katy has a butterfly - her special God symbol. 

It has meaning particularly for her. 

For Cleopas and friend the sign was the breaking of bread. 

For Thomas it was the nail hole. 

Moses knew that when he saw burning bushes, 

God was hanging around. 

Some people have a particular song, a visual image...

What is MY sign? 

What is my personal reminder of God's presence?

I see God in so many places

when I stop to THINK about it. 

What causes me to recognize God instantly? 

What 'breaks the bread' for me? 

I don't have an answer. 

When I see an acorn I immediately think of my Father.

But, while my dad was righteous, he isn't God.  

Mountain peaks and alpine flowers usually put me in a God-state. 

Laughter-in-love can bring God to mind.

What about a rainbow? That's Biblical! 

Crosses?  A poem? A hymn?  Communion?

Perhaps I recognize God when I draw or create. 

Perhaps it is a fresh-baked loaf of bread. 

I don't have an answer. 

But I think I should.   

THURSDAY, April 24 
Luke 24:28-32 MSG

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

32 Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

     Sometimes our glimpses of God are so brief.  We experience the fire, and the moment passes.  But the God-presence lingers in the form of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes the problem is not how brief God is present, but how long it takes for us to recognize the God-moment!  Open our eyes, Lord, to truly see you alive all around us; to truly recognize your presence in the everyday, the ordinary.  

(Jed will NOT be graduating this May...and the issue is not his thesis.  He was blindsided in the meeting with the dean to learn he is 8 credits short.  He never should have been cleared at his candidacy meeting two years ago!  Now....to find the God-presence in this mess and forge ahead.  He will be a better instructor for the experience....no student of his will go through this!)

WEDNESDAY, April 23  
Luke 24:25-27  GNT
Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” 27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
     I imagine God does get a little frustrated with us from time to time.  We doubt, we rebel, we don't listen very well.  Our faith and trust are tested.  Perhaps that's how Jesus felt as he talked with the two on the road to Emmaus.  When will they get it?  But the beauty of our relationship with God is eternal.  God simply continues to love us, patiently guide us, and, as Jesus did on the road, remind us once again of The Story. In the midst of our doubt, may we be ready to respond, once again, to the resurrection, to the hope, to the challenge God puts before us.  

(My mind is not very focused this morning....asking for prayers for Jed.  He called last night to let us know that his doctoral dissertation had been postponed.  The committee wanted changes and clarifications.  Instead of a defense meeting today, he has a meeting with the dean to see if his graduation can proceed inspite of a late defense.  He is working hard to make it happen but the time line is very tight.  Pray for him please.)


TUESDAY, April 22  Tell the Story!

Luke 24:17-19, 27 GNT

17 Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?”

They stood still, with sad faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.  “The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.....

27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.

     How often do we ask someone to repeat what we already know?  Does the repetition affirm our belief?   The more we share, the more we repeat, the more we understand ourselves.  The two who walked the Emmaus Road shared the story with the central character.  Yet Jesus let them proceed, knowing it would help them understand.  Then Jesus clarified it all.  Even then the two didn't recognize him.  How dense can we be sometimes!?  God walks right beside us and we don't realize it.  But God keeps telling the story, and we must also.  Someday we'll get it.  Someday.  

MONDAY, April 21  

Luke 24:13-16 VOICE

That same day, two other disciples (not of the eleven) are traveling the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. 14 As they walk along, they talk back and forth about all that has transpired during recent days. 15 While they’re talking, discussing, and conversing, Jesus catches up to them and begins walking with them, 16 but for some reason they don’t recognize Him.

Tell the story. 

Tell it to yourself...over and over. 

Remind your Monday self that the resurrection has changed you. 

Tell the story. 

Tell it to those you meet along the way. 

Remind each other that the resurrection makes a difference.  

And then?

Look around.  Be aware. 

Jesus will be walking with you.

All the way. 

Every day. 

Allelulia! 

EASTER SUNDAY, April 20    

Matthew 28:1-10 GNT

After the Sabbath, as Sunday morning was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid that they trembled and became like dead men.

5 The angel spoke to the women. “You must not be afraid,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has been raised, just as he said. Come here and see the place where he was lying. 7 Go quickly now, and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from death, and now he is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him!’ Remember what I have told you.”

8 So they left the tomb in a hurry, afraid and yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Peace be with you.” They came up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to them. “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The tomb is empty.  He is Risen!  

Let us go out and LIVE as Easter people!  

BENEDICTION BLESSINGS..... (d365.org - Gina Yeager-Buckley)

Resurrection changes things—
Each and every day.

Believing makes all the difference.
Even when you have your doubts,
Jesus remains close by.

Now go to tell others about
The life-changing love Christ offers.