Easter Day 2009 evensong.

If we feel we have had a long week – just think what it must have been like for the disciples..

Not only did it probably seem to have been long but look what had happened at the end of it – all their hopes and wishes must have vanished as their Master hung and died on the Cross.

Its easy for us to think why didn’t they realise what would happen – hadn’t they listened to anything Jesus had told them – didn’t they know from the scriptures. It’s all so easy when you know what happened – not when you’re in the midst of it, with all your fears, anger, sadness for just think of all the emotions the disciples must have felt.

And then just when it seemed they had lost everything they began to hear rumours that he had risen, that the tomb was empty. But two of the disciples had already given up, they were returning home from Jerusalem, what was the point of staying there, they were discouraged, fed up, there didn’t seem any point in hanging around any longer.

But they couldn’t forget what had happened, and they walked along discussing it all when they were joined by a third person who asked them what they were talking about. Here they were so downcast, feeling so fed up, and this man who was also walking away from Jerusalem, didn’t know what had happened. How could anyone have been there and not heard – everyone was talking about the crucifixion.

They were amazed at his lack of knowledge, so amazed, in fact, and so caught up with their own distress that they didn’t recognise him, they were so pre-occupied with their own thoughts. And Jesus didn’t bound up to them saying ‘come on - who do you think you’re talking to.

No he let them talk, he let them describe all they had been thought, all that had happened.

Then slowly he began to teach them the scriptures, tell them the things he had taught them in the past but still they couldn’t see who they were with, they still thought he was a stranger. But what they were enjoying was his companionship – so much so that when they reached their village they asked him to stay with them. And Christ answered as he would answer anyone today who asked him to stay with them – he answered yes. Christ never rejects an invitation to be at our side.

Jesus never forces his friendship on anyone but as with the disciples on the Emmaus Road he always ready to walk by our side, listening to our fears, our anger, our loneliness and then to answer us.

The trouble with us can be that we are so wrapped up in our own problems that we do not hear his answer, we do not see him at our side, for we have our own idea as to what will happened, what the answer will be and so often the result is that we walk away from Christ, we think we are on our own – we do not stop to listen.

It can happen to anyone – for we all have times in our life when it all seems ‘a bit much’. Life is full of distractions, we are too busy, someone in the family is ill, there is friction in our lives, there is so much to do - we are just too busy to pray, to talk to God, to listen to him. We become unaware of Jesus in our lives, we forget the strength he offers us, we forget the message of the Cross. And then we start to think God has deserted us – we never seem to think we have deserted him. Slowly life becomes meaningless, life can become hopeless. If only we would stop and listen – stay still for a moment.

But the glory of this passage is how Jesus dealt with the disciples, and the message it has, not just for us, but for everyone today. For Jesus is still here. He’s the unseen "stranger", walking with us, that feeling we get that we are not actually alone. Yes Jesus is listening to

us and, if we are willing to hear his voice, he will reveal himself to us. Just as he took hold of the bewilderment and sorrow of the two disciples and changed it into a life changing experience.

Well, where are we in our experience? Are we still feeling alone - because we need to meet the risen Christ? Do we let our own ideas of what is right for us cloud our vision. Like the disciples are we in danger of missing the point. Christ longs for each one of us to walk alongside him in close fellowship so he can full fill his plans for our lives. His way for us may not seem the obvious way, so we have to be prepared for him to open our eyes, to take us to a new spiritual height. And when we let him take over our lives they will never be quite the same again.

And not just that. There is his promise to us how we truly receive his body in the breaking of the bread – the Eucharist. The disciples didn’t recognise Jesus until he broke the bread with them, let us give thanks that we belong to a church where the breaking of bread is the focal point of our worship.

And that is not just a message for us it is the message we are called to share this Eastertide, to go out into the world and proclaim.

We heard in the Gospel how the two disciples lost no time in retracing their steps to Jerusalem to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. May that be our experience this Easter and for the rest of our lives. Amen