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April 6, 2008
Scripture: Luke 24: 13-35
Sermon: "Continuing the Journey"

A funny thing happened on the way to writing this sermon. I was reminded of a faith lesson: Practice what you preach. As many of you know, on Easter morning, I brought you the message about Jesus’ resurrection and asked the question: What are we as Christians going to do now? And our morning Scripture called us to Go! Make Disciples. Share the Good News!

So why was I surprised that on the day following Easter as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I was going…going to share the Good news… by traveling down to Louisiana for a mission trip. Now it is at this moment that I must make a confession. I really didn’t want to go. Sure I would have been more energetic about going if the trip was not immediately after Easter. Like many of my colleagues in ministry, I look forward to that Monday after Easter to rest and recover. The church has made it through Lent. We as people of faith have explored and have grown in our relationship with God. And we have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And now…in most ministers’ minds, including mine, It was time to rest.

I know that I have a few weeks before I have to get geared up for another church holiday. It was time to rest, not get on a bus, travel 13 hours to Louisiana and work all week. Easter morning was over. The excitement was over. In the life of the church, we enter sort of a “dead” time until the next Big Holy Day which is Pentecost.

So I was surprised to find myself at 5:30 on the Monday morning after Easter, climbing on a bus, heading to Louisiana. Surely, I thought to myself this is not what Jesus meant when he said, “I have been raised from the grave. Now Go and tell all the nations!” Surely, he would let his disciples have a break, to rest and recover, to prepare for their journey of sharing the Good News. Right?

But as I learned like so many others, God has a sense of humor. When Moses was making excuses about why he couldn’t be a leader, God’s sense of humor came through when God told Moses: Don’t worry. I’ll send your brother Aaron along with you. And when Jonah tried to run away from his calling of preaching, God’s sense of humor came through when Jonah found himself in the belly of a big fish, waiting and thinking. And so why was I surprised that on the day after Easter, God’s sense of humor came through again as I found myself sitting on a bus, headed to Louisiana.

And a funny thing happened on the way to writing this sermon. I met the Risen Christ. At first, I didn’t recognize Jesus. I was too focused on what I would have rather been doing: staying at home, sleeping in my own bed, resting after Easter. But I was there in Louisiana. I tell you God has a sense of humor.

When I first pulled up to the work site, I noticed the FEMA trailer. It was small and was tight living quarters for this family of four. And the Mike greeted me and thanked me for coming down. He showed us around the house. “It is almost finished.” He said. “I might be able to move in this weekend, depending on how much work your group gets done.” He shared that he and his family have been living in their FEMA trailer for about 3 years and were anxious to move into their new home.”

“But first, he said, what day would be good for me to make lunch for your group?” I was a little confused. We are here to work. We are here to help him out and he was offering to feed us. And then Mike said, “It is the least that I can do. I try to feed every group that comes down as a way to thank you. You know you didn’t have to come down and help. I am sure that you have got better things to do than work for a week in Louisiana. Now, just tell me a day and I’ll get lunch ready. I am going to treat you! How does Shrimp Gumbo sound?”

A funny thing happened on the way to writing this sermon, I met the risen Christ. We had finished up working for the day and that night was the night of the church potluck. We entered the church to see church members in the kitchen, heating up dishes and making drinks. They greeted us with smiles and said, “We are almost ready. Why don’t you all go and rest? And we will call you when dinner is ready.”

A few minutes later, we were going through the dinner line as special guests. And what a dinner line! There were pans and pans of food. This church had put together a potluck dinner to rival a Midway potluck. No one was going hungry that night. As I was going through the line, I started making conversation with one of the church members. I thanked them for their generous and genuine hospitality. And she mentioned, “It is the least that we can do. We try to do this for every workgroup that comes through our doors as a way to say thank you. You know you didn’t have to come down and help. I am sure that you have got better things to do than work for a week in Louisiana. But are so thankful that you all did come down. Now, don’t forget to try my dish of Chicken and rice.”

A funny thing happened to me on my way to writing this sermon. I met the risen Christ. Yes, Jesus came to me in many forms that week in Louisiana. I had experienced the risen Christ where I had least expected to: traveling by bus to Louisiana for a week of work on the Monday after Easter. And I realized that Yes, this is exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “I have been raised from the grave. Now Go and tell!” Jesus wanted them to continue the journey that began when he first said to them, “Come and follow me.” Jesus wanted them to continue the journey that first started when he began to share and teach them God’s word. Jesus wanted them to continue the journey that started the first time that he broke bread with them and said, “This is my body, broken for you.”

Jesus didn’t want his disciples to rest or recover after Easter. Jesus didn’t want them to take a break. Jesus didn’t want them to think that they could take a while and gear up for the next part of the Coming of God’s Kingdom. The message was too important! The Good News was too Great! Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead for all of God’s people! How could the disciples not be motivated to go and share!

On that road to Emmaus, Jesus wanted the disciples to realize that they had been preparing for this journey to share the Good News from the very beginning. Each and every time that he shared and interpreted God’s word for them, he was preparing them for that Monday morning after Easter when they would Go and share the Good news. Each and every time that they grew in relationship with God and with each other, Jesus had been preparing them for that Monday morning after Easter when they would Go and make disciples of all nations.

And on that road to Emmaus, these two disciples realized that a funny thing happened to them as they were continuing their journey. They had experienced the Risen Christ.

And that is the opportunity that we as people of faith are invited to hear and be a part of this morning. That as we continue our journey past the cross, past the empty tomb, and on our way to go and share the Good News, we open our hearts and our minds to the Risen Christ. It is the message that needs to be heard again and again by all disciples of Christ. Because “to do so is to confirm, strengthen, encourage, and deepen faith.”

A funny thing happened to Midway Christian Church on the way to visioning and discerning God’s word. We experienced the Risen Christ through hearing and teaching the Scripture. Can we say Worship and Education? We experienced the Risen Christ through fellowship and care? Can we say Love, Community, and Open Table? We experienced the Risen Christ through relationships. Can we say Mission and Evangelism?

A funny thing happened to Midway Christian Church on the way to visioning and discerning God’s word. We experienced the Risen Christ by embracing our mission of WELCOME! And we are called to share the Good News to all of God’s people through our mission of Welcome!

A funny thing happened on the way to continuing our journey as people of faith. We experienced the Risen Christ.

May we always recognize the Risen Christ as we continue our journeys of faith. Amen.

Heather McColl

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