Archive for month: April, 2023

Our Gospel Reading is about two men who were troubled by the crucifixion of Jesus. Their hopes had been dashed. As they walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a stranger joined their journey (Luke 24:13-35). The stranger expounded the Scripture as it related to a crucified Messiah. They finally put it all together and understood when in the “breaking of bread,” their eyes were opened when they understood that it was the resurrected Christ who had been speaking to them.

Despite our proclamation and participation in the Lord’s Supper, do we always get it right regarding a crucified Messiah? What about the times we would rather lash out than hold our tongue, return blow for blow and punch for punch and feed our anger and plot revenge? Are there times we would rather mete out punishment with no thought of seeking to be reconciled? When will we finally and fully understand what it means to follow a crucified Messiah? May we live out what has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

Our testing and trials may not be as severe as those faced in this letter of 1 Peter, yet we all face testing and trials. First, we live in a world that counters the way of Christ, for example, our society places pride over humility; greed over sharing; self-concern over concern for others; warfare and bullying over consensus; power over fairness; injustice over justice, and hatred over love and concern. The way of Christ is vastly different from the ways of the world.

Second, things happen in life that make us wonder if God is faithful: Job loss, family issues, health issues, and so forth. Anything that makes living our faith and life more difficult, and in difficult times may we lean more upon Christ and our fellow Christians. In difficult times, we find out what we really believe to be true in life and who our friends are. When trials test the authenticity of your faith, do not give up, and know that your brothers and sisters in Christ stand with you.