The Day of Resurrection

Debbie:
Exodus 12:1-14
When children are young they often enjoy hearing a story over and over again. This is good and we should tell them stories, all sorts of stories, but especially family stories. As we get older we begin to hear a story and if we think we have heard the story we tend to tune it out, or we might even say to the person, “Oh, I have heard this story before.” or “You already told me this story.” But when we do this we might miss something, a piece of the story, interaction with others, and the opportunity to share community. I have heard many people say, “I wish I had sat down with my grandmother and listened to her stories of when she was a child one more time and recorded them.” This story from Exodus is one of our family stories. God told the people to relive each year so that it would be held in their memories and in their hearts. The ritual of worship is a gift from God to each of us rich with meaning so that we might not only remember but also live. But more than that today, Easter, the day of resurrection, we can hear this text anew as the day to celebrate God’s ultimate “passover”.

The Day of Resurrection, Earth tell it out abroad,
The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God
From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, With hymns of victory.

Luke 24:13-35
There are a couple of remarkable things about this passage from Luke. It is the Emmaus Road story, so it is another resurrection appearance. In this passage Luke expands our concept of discipleship from 12 to others because here are two more disciples one of whom is named Cleopas, who was not named as one of the 12. They are not simply bewildered because of the news that the women told them but they are sad. And this is where Christ enters breaking down walls and barriers, opening doors and minds. In their conversation with this supposed stranger on the road he reminds them of their faith and foundation, the Word of God, scripture. Jesus opened the scripture to them from Moses through the prophets. They in turn offer him hospitality and because this stranger broke bread with them they saw the risen Christ. Middle Eastern hospitality of the day would have allowed for the act of hospitality, but I wondered how often I have turned away a stranger or even an acquaintance and missed the opportunity to see the risen Lord. I pray this Easter season I may be open to the see Christ in the people I meet each day, on the road, in the market, in the church, wherever Christ encounters me.