Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Rev. Rob Stevens
The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel
Luke 24:36b-48
Jesus stood among the disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look 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." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Then 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." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."
Reflection
This encounter that the Risen Jesus has with his friends has such power for me right now. I would so long to be able to share the Peace with you and share a meal. I find it wonderful that when Jesus encountered his friends even after his resurrection, he did ordinary things. They exchanged the Peace, they embraced, and they shared a meal. A few months ago, this passage may have just passed me by, but today those ordinary acts feel extraordinary. One of the byproducts of this quarantine is that many ordinary tasks and activities have become impossible. I miss them, and in missing them I appreciate them all the more. My gratitude for simple pleasures such as hugging a friend and sharing a meal has grown exponentially and I hope I never take such simple pleasures for granted again. I encourage you today to celebrate the simplicity that this time brings. I also pray that we will soon be able to share a hug, pass the peace and have a holy meal together. Until then, be good to you.