Open: Into the Light
Luke 24: 28-49
Have you ever stopped to think about the sacraments?
I have. I am also something of a nerd, so there is that. But the sacraments were how I found my faith again. Different christian denominations have different understandings of the sacraments. In our church we believe that there are two: baptism and communion.
The thing that is really important to me about the sacraments is that the most finite kinds of things (bread, wine, water) become a sign of the real presence of the infinite. For us, when we gather together with intention and pray over these elements of bread, wine and water, they become something deeper and wider.
Being in the presence of the sacraments, for us, means we are also in a unique presence of the divine. Something opens up in the time and space when we invite Christ's unique presence; something truly cosmic happens. And the remarkable thing is that it all starts with food and water.
I wonder if we ever stop and think enough about the gift of accessibility God offers us through the sacraments. In the story of the Walk to Emmaus, the disciples in their grief were headed to Emmaus when they met someone on the road who didn't seem to know what had happened--which shocked them! So they spent quite some time walking with this stranger, and the stranger DID seem quite versed in the words of the prophets and their shared faith.
When night came and they wanted to find a place to stay for the evening, they invited the stranger in with them. Once the stranger sat down and broke bread with them, scripture says "their eyes were opened, and they recognized him."
There are the sacraments: communion and baptism. And then there is sacramentality--the belief that God shows up in surprising places and in the midst of the mundane. Think of how long Jesus' disciples walked with him before they actually ended up recognizing him!
What if that is our tendency--to go through life walking right alongside Jesus but not recognizing him being among us day after day. Maybe Jesus meets us through the eyes of someone in need, or in the face of someone who has been estranged from us or needs our forgiveness. God forbid, what if Jesus meets us in people whom we plain just don't like?
This week, I want to invite you to remember how even the disciples had a hard time recognizing Jesus at times. And that you can cut yourself some slack if you are having a hard time. I want to invite you to stay open to the likelihood that Jesus has always been with you! I hope you will seek the opportunity to find Jesus who has always been with you day after day, and maybe take some time to allow your hearts to "burn within" you as you become aware of Jesus' invitation to love your neighbor, follow God's call on your life, and live into the fullness of that which God created you to be.
