The Readings

Acts 2.14a, 36-41

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Luke 24.13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 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 him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Sermon
By Anne, Lay Reader at St Mary's.

One day last year when I was on the train to Manchester, I suddenly became aware, as we turned out of the Hope Valley towards Edale, that, for a brief moment, there is a clear view of Peveril Castle at Castleton further up the valley. Though I have made that journey many times, it was the first time I had noticed it, as, on this particular day a shaft of light was just picking out the tower of the castle, making it stand out against the hillside. I had always known that Peveril Castle was there behind Castleton, on the ridge between the main valley and Cave Dale, but until the light picked it out that day I had not realised what a good view there is of it, fleetingly, from the train. Normally it merges into the background of the higher hills and the rocky outcrops and is difficult to make out but now I have seen it clearly and I know where to look, even on a dull day I know that it is there and can discern its outline.

A moment of illumination can transform how we see things, it can transform our whole perspective on life and bring our faith alive in a new way, even sending us in a new direction.

For the companions on the road to Emmaus on that first Easter Day events were hard to comprehend. They had seen their world come crashing down with the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, and they had been met with the startling and hard to comprehend reality of the empty tomb that morning. They had heard the witness from the women that angels had told them Jesus was alive but they had not experienced this for themselves.

Now as they walked they were discussing all that had happened, trying to make sense of it.  Perhaps surprisingly when they are joined by a stranger on the road they are willing to tell him the full story, confiding details that could have got them into trouble.  They tell the stranger that they believed Jesus was “a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” and then that their own Jewish priests and leaders had handed him over to be condemned and crucified. They admit they had hoped Jesus was the “one to redeem Israel” (the Messiah). They go on to tell the stranger about the women going after 3 days and finding the tomb empty and hearing from angels that Jesus is alive and about their own visit to the tomb to see that it was empty.

They have made themselves vulnerable to this stranger. He could have been someone who had bayed for Jesus' blood on Good Friday.  They know nothing of their companion and they certainly do not recognise him as Jesus, and yet they have laid open their whole story.

And now the stranger begins to open up the Bible to them, highlighting what is really said in the prophets about the Messiah, especially in regard to his suffering before entering glory.

Cleopas and his companion feel moved and uplifted by the stranger's words, their hearts “burning within them” but they still do not recognise Jesus until they persuade him to come into the house to stay as it is late, and he blesses and breaks bread and their eyes are opened as he shares it with them.

Then, despite the late hour, as Jesus disappears, they race back to Jerusalem to share their amazing news and are met by more good news of Jesus appearing to Simon.

Cleopas and his companion knew the facts of Jesus life, death and resurrection but it was only as Jesus (in the guise of a stranger) shed light on the Bible's words and broke bread with them that they recognised the reality of God's word and action and experienced the reality of resurrection joy.

God's light had fallen on their harsh reality and revealed the glory within it and opened up a whole new future.

Like Cleopas and his companion many people in these days feel they are walking a hard road trying to make sense of recent events where hopes and dreams, plans and expectations have been upturned and dashed. Livelihoods have been damaged, old certainties have been shattered. It's a time of worry,  a time of grieving, a time of heartbreak, a time of confusion, a time when the future looks bleak.

But as we walk that road, as we mull over the story of recent weeks and days, the insights of strangers and a fresh perspective on words of Scripture as we read our Bibles can open our eyes to the revelations of Christ risen and living among us, sharing in our community.

We cannot meet as worshipping communities in our church buildings but we are finding other ways to stay in touch and to share together. Perhaps we talk to each other more now than we have before about how we are feeling and share more of what is hard and what it good.

We must not get bogged down in the undoubtedly difficult parts of these times or in feelings of being abandoned by God because a God is at work in these times as in all times. There is intense creativity going on. People, friends and strangers, are finding new ways to use their skills, their resources, to serve each other and to create what is needed for these times.

Although we might not want to admit it, there may be pressures that we are glad to be relieved of like the daily slog to work on crowded public transport or in slow moving traffic, or some pressures of consumerism.  We may be finding a positive side to a simpler way of living.

We can see nature re-emerging around us as human activity is lessened. Animals are more bold, bird song seems louder and sweeter. And we have more time to listen and to look.

May we carry our new insights into our future and hold the positives as we move forward.

The first disciples in the days after Easter had their eyes opened to the joy and reality of the resurrection. For Cleopas and his companion it was a stranger who opened their eyes. It was only at the last moment they recognised that stranger to be Jesus. As all the disciples came to understand the new reality of Christ risen, they found it was the start of a whole new direction in their lives. The coming months and years as they began to share the good news were not all plain sailing and there were many challenges and difficulties to come, but their resurrection faith was firm.

In these days I pray that our eyes may be opened to the joy and reality of our resurrection faith for these circumstances and that we may follow where Jesus guides. May the light of Christ illumine our path and lead us every onward on his way.

I conclude with the words of the Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter:

Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Prayers

Risen Christ come amongst us at the break of this day and be with us.

We pray for Christ's world, for those places where human violence and greed have marred the beauty of creation. We offer to him with thanks all those who set aside ego and self-promotion to work for peace and reconciliation.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for the Church. We give thanks when its presence brings hope, support and community. We pray for those times when it has fallen short. We pray especially for our Archbishop, our Bishop Pete and Bishop Designate Sophie. We give thanks for our partners in ministry and St Mark’s Broomhill and St John’s Ranmoor, and for Walkley Ebenezer Methodist.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for all those who suffer at this time, particularly those effected by the coronavirus. As the lockdown continues, we pray for those who struggle with isolation, mental health and domestic violence. We give thanks for those who care for others in many different ways.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for those who have died. We remember those we have known and loved. We pray for those who have died as a result of the pandemic. We pray for those from our own community. Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.

Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.