Readings for Easter 3, May 8th 2011 include: Acts 2:36-41, Ps 116, 1Pe 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35
What’s happening?
Nearly all of us will have told someone this week
about things that have happened to us.
The Gospel story relates one of these sorts of conversations
In so doing we are reminded some what of the importance of reflecting on our experience
That is, trying to discern how God might be doing in our lives.
Two disciples going down a road
take the opportunity of time together
to talk about recent events.
In so doing, they are joined by a third person
who we later discover is Jesus.
And the result is that they are able to say
“Did not our hearts burn within us?”
As they understood the mystery which was unfolding
they found all sorts of doors and understanding opening up before them.
Then finally they are able to say Easter words that we repeat at each Eucharist
The disciples knew Jesus
in the breaking of the bread
Learning from experience
It’s not really true to say that we learn from experience
(it’s apparent that some people don’t!)
We learn from reflecting on experience
That is we listen to our experience
think about it
and then decide how we need to change and grow
Mere experience alone won’t do it.
So these disciples model for us something important.
They remind us how important it might be to share
what happens to us
and indeed to allow ourselves top be shared with!
This seems important for people in relationships
husbands & wives, parents and children,
friends, colleagues and so on.
Maybe we (as people committed to community) need to particularly look round for those who don’t have people to share stuff with.
The isolated, the lonely
the bereaved, the friendless.
And can we jump to the end of the story
and also realize the importance of what it says about
meals
It is as they sat down to eat and drink
that they came to understand
Let’s not over think the Eucharistic symbolism (it’s certainly there)
but so also is the simple reality
that meals are important times for us.
What does that say about eating in from of the telly,
or fast food?
Do we also need to be mindful of those who habitually live and eat alone?
Learning from Jesus
But as Christians we see something else in this story
our experience comes to life
our understanding takes great leaps forward
when we allow Jesus to speak into it.
I often think my role as a priest is not to dole out advice
but rather to help people let Jesus speak into their lives.
What is Jesus saying to you
about what is on your current plate?
We are so often self-satisfied, or smug
that even though we are people of faith
we don’t let Jesus speak into our lives.
It is potentially the difference between
confusion
and “our hearts burning within us”
This week then
Take time (perhaps with someone else) to think about what is going on in your life
Don’t just stick with that
but also ask
“What, Jesus,are you speaking into that situation?”
How might God be inviting me to respond, grow change as I reflect on my experience and hear Jesus speaking?
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