Sermon on Luke 24:13-34

Pastor Jennifer Garcia

A major chapter in the lives of the disciples had ended. They had learned from Jesus for three years, but he had been put to death by the authorities. Now it was all over.

The disciples were lost, uncertain of what would come next for them. They hid themselves from the authorities and waited.

Two of the disciples headed out of town. Perhaps the memories of the previous week were too strong in Jerusalem. Perhaps they were restless and could no longer sit in the upper room waiting to be caught and crucified like their teacher.

So they left. Cleopas and another disciple. Some have theorized that the other disciple was his wife, but we’ll never know.

Whoever these two disciples were, they met a stranger on the journey.

He seemed completely clueless about the biggest event in their entire lives, but he was surprisingly knowledgeable about the scriptures. They talked along the way, and for those few hours, perhaps the two disciples felt a little less scared, a little less alone. To borrow a phrase from our Methodist siblings, perhaps their hearts were “strangely warmed.”

When they finally arrived, the sun was setting, but the stranger looked like he was going to continue on. In customary hospitable fashion, they insisted he stay with them.

As they sat down to the evening meal, the stranger started a familiar ritual: “he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” It was in this moment that they realized it had been Jesus all along.

Isn’t it always Jesus all along?

So often we go about our daily lives, and it is only in hindsight that we realize:

1.    that person on the side of the road holding a cardboard sign was Jesus,

2.    that six-year-old who made an insightful comment that took us by surprise was Jesus,

3.    that friend who reached out just when we needed it most was Jesus.

Jesus is always there, especially in the places we least expect to find him.

Jesus was there for these two disciples in the midst of their grief, fear and confusion. He was there for them at the turn of a new chapter in their lives that they didn’t understand yet.

And First Lutheran, too, is at the start of a new chapter.

Pastor Greg has served this community faithfully and lovingly, and now he is being called to serve in new ways elsewhere. God is not done with him, and God is not done with First Lutheran.

But in the midst of change, it’s easy to feel scared, sad, and lonely, just like the disciples at the beginning of our story.

It’s normal to feel anxious about change—regardless of whether the change is good or bad. It’s hard to let go of what has been, because we can’t see yet what God has in store for us next.

Even though the two disciples in our story had heard the testimony of the women disciples who said that angels had told them Jesus was alive, they were still sad and afraid. They didn’t know if they could believe that Jesus was alive, and they didn’t know what was next for them.

But Jesus met them anyway.

Jesus walked with them, gave them insight, and communed with them. He walked by their side and sat at their table.

Despite what it seemed, he never left them, never abandoned them. He was with them all along, even when they didn’t realize it.

And Jesus will not leave us either.

Jesus is always present when people gather in his name.

Jesus has been preached by so many people in this place. His praises have been sung thousands upon thousands of times.

Jesus has been at this table since this congregation’s founding.

Jesus is present in every person who walks in those doors and every person who is fed by our pantry.

All of that will continue, God willing, for many, many years to come. And if and when the time comes when this place is no longer used for these purposes, God’s people will continue to meet wherever they are, praying, preaching, eating, singing, serving until the end of time and then for eternity.

And we get to be part of that. This chapter is ending and a new one will begin. You get to help discern what the Holy Spirit is up to next.

Jesus will be with you through it all. He is already here, and he journeys with us into whatever comes next.

If you are afraid, take heart.

If you are sad, lean on each other and on Jesus, who never abandons his people.

Beloved, we are all God’s Church, Christ’s Body, called to share God’s love with the world in old and new ways. Eat your fill of Jesus’ presence, and let your hearts burn within you.