Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Luke 24:30-31– 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; and he vanished from their sight. (NRSV)

Have you finished all your colorful hard boiled eggs yet? The celebration part of Easter is starting to fade. But the celebrating part is the easy part. Living Easter is what really matters, and it can be a lot trickier.

The disciples who were walking to Emmaus after Jesus had been crucified thought they knew what to expect from their immediate future: sadness and despair. It took them quite a while to open up to the idea that something else might be possible. As their hearts were stretched, they were called back into the ministry of hospitality. And once the Stranger was sharing the table with them, they suddenly realized what was really happening. Christ is risen!

Sometimes it's hard for us to let go of our expectations and embrace the surprising reality unfolding right in front of us. As Easter people we are called to live with the assumption that God is calling forth new life all around us, in any moment.

Even once we recognize the Living Christ in our midst, we don't often get to hang out and chill. Jesus has gone on before us, into the streets, into the nursing homes, into the halls of power where truth needs proclaiming. Living as an Easter people means staying on the go much of the time. That's why we call it following Jesus.