AfterWords: "On your Mark. Get Set. Go!"

 

Acts 1:1-8

As children, so many of us participated in those neighborhood footraces. Someone would say, “Hey, let’s race to Richard’s house!” Then someone would yell, “Line on the sidewalk is the starting line!” After everyone was there, someone else would say those important words: "On your mark. Get set. Go!" Of course, that person would have a foot in motion as he was saying ‘Go!,’ and we’d all take off flying down the sidewalk. We did not know at that time the importance of those steps of finding the mark, getting set, and then going. Our reading today helps us see their importance.

On your mark. Get your toe on the line, make sure you’re facing the right direction, make sure you’re starting in the right place. For the disciples, Jerusalem is the right place. Jesus has them all in the right place. In fact, when they gather here, Jesus tells them where the finish line is: the ends of the earth, the whole world. They are on their mark.

Get set. This is more than being in the right place. This is about getting our form, setting in, tensing the right muscles, leaning the body forward to add momentum to the start. This is about making sure your body is able to start this race well. The Holy Spirit was what the disciples need to get set. Jesus says that the Spirit will give them power. In the Greek that Luke writes this in, the word is dunamis, a word that indicates conveying ability. The Holy Spirit will get the disciples ready, make them able, for something that has never happened before, for a task no one has had before. By God’s Spirit, they’ll be set.

Now would be the time to say, Go!, but the disciples have to wait. Wait. Wait. We despise waiting in this world. I used to hate it, but then I went to Venezuela where I had to wait in line to pay the water bill, the power bill, the cell phone bill, the cable bill, to make a bank deposit. Lines were everywhere—a way of life. Most of the time, I would be in line from one to two hours at each place I had to do business. In the beginning, I was incredulous. Then, I watched the people around me. They talked with one another. They took care of other business on their phones. Some would read magazines and a very few books. I learned to make the most of the wait…and I have a feeling that our 1st Century disciples did the same. In fact, when we see how they spread throughout the known world after Pentecost, I’m guessing they used their waiting time to plan how they would reach “the finish line.”

Perhaps you are in a time of waiting—you feel called to something, you have sensed God nudging you towards something, but you feel the need to wait. You may even be frustrated. If you are in the waiting season, you have heard the “On your mark” and the “Get set!,” and all you need is the “Go!,” use this waiting time to plan, pray, prepare. You’ll know when it’s time to go…and you’ll have God’s Spirit making you able to do it all.

On your mark. Get set. Wait….

Sunday, May 25, 2025
“On your Mark. Get set. Go!”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "God is All about Comedy"

 

Luke 24: 44-53

Since December, we have been following the Gospel of Luke, hearing again (or for the first time) the stories of Jesus’ life, miracles, and teachings. As we come to the end of this journey through the Gospel, as we read the last verses of the last chapter, we learn something new about God: God is all about comedy!

Now, remember that “comedy” in the dramatic sense isn’t the same thing we think about today when we hear the word. We think “funny,” and there are times when God seems funny—just check out the blobfish (a real thing!)…or your in-laws (just kidding). Comedy in the classical sense refers to a drama in which the protagonist or main character is in a better place at the end than at the beginning. Tragedy is the opposite. Shakespeare’s Hamlet (the character) is a tragic figure. He begins the play in a sad and dark place…and he ends the play dead--yeah, that’s ending in a worse place than he began. Mary Poppins is a comedy in the real sense that almost everyone in the play/movie is in a better, brighter, happier place at the end than at the beginning. You get the idea….

So, in Luke 24, we see our disciples move from shattered, abandoned, hopeless, directionless (at least, that’s how they feel after the crucifixion even though God never abandoned them) to people once again filled with hope and purpose and direction. Jesus reminds them in today’s reading that he had to go through all he went through—it was prophesied in the Old Testament. But, now—alive again and with his disciples—he gives them their “marching orders”: preach, proclaim, tell the world about the gift of forgiveness and fresh-starts. (Luke uses the word “repentance,” a word that means to turn in a new or different direction, so we can say new direction or fresh start.)

For us today in the 21st Century, the “marching orders” have not changed. We, too, have the joy of sharing with others about God’s amazing gift of forgiveness (something we desperately need whether we’re conscious of this or not) and the opportunity we all have to make a fresh start of things, to change the direction of our lives by God’s grace. Jesus calls his disciples “witnesses”—people who tell what they’ve seen. You and I have seen the changes in our own lives as we have both accepted and extended forgiveness. You and I have relished the chance to start over, to go in a new direction in our lives…by God’s grace.

God does not force these gifts on us. We can reject God’s forgiveness and hold on to the fear and self-loathing of our lives, our bad decisions. We can reject God’s gift of fresh starts and new directions and just keep going forward in our own self-destructive, closed-minded journey. And our lives will be tragedies. God invites us to be a part of his grand comedy…and for us to share with others this life of forgiveness and fresh starts.

Sunday, May 18, 2025
“End of a Journey”
Watch/Listen: HERE

 

AfterWords: "Jesus in ... Community"

 

Luke 24:36-43

Today’s reading provides Luke’s third Resurrection Story. First, the women find the empty tomb, hear the Easter declaration—Christ is Risen!, and run back to tell the others. Then, we join Cleopas and “Unknown” as they journey towards Emmaus—Jesus joins them (unrecognized), reminds them of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and then reveals himself in the breaking of the bread during supper. Today’s third story finds all of the disciples (the Eleven and many others) gathered (probably in the Upper Room) talking about these events and Peter’s encounter with the Risen Jesus (not recorded in the Gospels).

As they discuss all of these things, Jesus suddenly appears…right there in the room with them. He challenges them to touch him, to see that he is “flesh and bone.” Then, he takes things a step further and eats some broiled fish with them. Luke wants us to know that Jesus is real—a flesh and blood human being and not merely an apparition or ghost or something.

We as 21st Century disciples need to keep an eye on the 1st Century disciples. We learn from them—in their actions and reactions. Their reactions to Jesus’ appearance are three-fold: startled, frightened and troubled, and amazed and joyful. We can understand these. Startled because they didn’t expect Jesus to suddenly appear in their midst. They probably were still ‘laying low’ after all that had happened to Jesus. Frightened and troubled…well, because they probably had not been faithful friends. If Peter was any indication to how disciples would react, we can imagine most of them stayed hidden over the last few days, and they may have even “denied” their association with the Galilean rabbi. Amazed and joyful…and that one is expected. Their master, friend, teacher who was dead is now alive…with them.

While Jesus doesn’t appear “flesh and bone” when we gather today, his Spirit is with us. Matthew relates Jesus’ words in his Gospel: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (18:20). So, when we gather, Jesus is here. And, we may respond to his presence just like the disciples in the 1st Century. We may be startled by something Jesus reveals about us or about himself to us through Scripture, song, or prayer. We may be frightened or troubled when Jesus brings to our minds something about our lives we had overlooked or ignored or tried to hide. We may find ourselves amazed or filled with joy when Jesus shows us God’s love and grace.

Likewise, today Jesus comes to us as he came to the first disciples…saying, “Peace be with you”…may all be well with you…may you know God’s rest and consolation. Today, Jesus says to us…to you, “Peace be with you.” This peace is real and sure for us because “Christ is Risen!”

Sunday, May 11, 2025
“Jesus in … Community”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Jesus in ... Communion"

 

Luke 24:13-16; 28-35

As we move through this season of Resurrection, through this Easter Season, we hear again the stories from that time in Jesus’ ministry. Really, these stories should be as well-known to us as the various Christmas stories since Easter is the very thing that validates Christmas. So, let’s continue with the “Walk to Emmaus” story.

The two disciples in the Emmaus Road story have already unknowingly been intercepted by the Risen Jesus. In their loss, brokenness, and confusion, they have shared with Jesus…and they have learned from Jesus. Jesus has shown them how the Scriptures have told the story of the coming Messiah…and all he was to do and suffer.

As these two disciples stop for the night, they invite Jesus to stay with them. They invite Jesus into their lives…they extend the gift of hospitality to this fellow they’ve been traveling with. Hospitality is a hallmark of God’s people all through Scripture. In Genesis, Abraham invites travelers to stop and eat with him. In the wilderness, God’s people are directed to welcome the foreigner and stranger within their gates. And, in the New Testament we find  Paul telling the Roman Christians to practice hospitality (Rom. 12). The writer of Hebrews reminds people to practice hospitality because in doing so, “some … have unknowingly entertained angels.” So, our disciples here invite the stranger (Jesus) into their lives.

As was and is one of the greatest forms of hospitality, the disciples invite the unknown traveler to eat with them. As they prepare to eat, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and hands it to them. And in that moment, their eyes are opened, and they see Jesus.

At that Last Supper before the crucifixion, Jesus took bread to represent himself. There were other foods at the table—lamb, vegetables, various herbs. But, Jesus chose the one food that would be on the disciples’ tables every day if not for every meal: bread. His hope was for them to break bread (literally) and remember him, remember what he had done.

For the first several hundred years of the Church, there were no altar tables, no paraments, no crosses, no candles. Communion—the Lord’s Supper—was practiced at a meal, at a regular table. Today, thanks to ‘sliced bread,’ we don’t break bread too often. But, at least we have Communion Sunday—a time we gather at the Table and truly break bread. We remember together who Jesus is and what God has done for us in and through Christ Jesus.

Our reading of the Emmaus story reminds us we are called to be a people of hospitality, a people who invite others into our lives…and who accept invitations into others’ lives. We also recall that Jesus comes to us in the simple act of breaking bread. May we be a people of hospitality, and may we experience Jesus in the breaking of bread…or the tearing of tortilla.

Sunday, May 4, 2025
“Jesus in … Communion”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Jesus in ... Scripture"

 

Luke 24:13-27

Sometimes, we come across a story that doesn’t end right, that doesn’t end the way we think it should or the way we expect. That was probably on the mind of the two disciples walking towards Emmaus the afternoon after the Resurrection. Of course, they weren’t even convinced yet that a resurrection had taken place.

Their minds were on the One they had lost—the One who called them, the One who worked miracles, the One who had out-argued and out-debated the religious leaders and authorities. The same One they had seen arrested, tried, mocked, humiliated, and crucified.

They were also pondering their crushed dreams—dreams of a redeemed and renewed Kingdom of Israel. They were sure Jesus would be the one to make it happen. Now, their dreams were shattered.

And, that very morning the women had added confusion to the mix by coming to the house and saying something about the tomb being empty. Was the body stolen? Was Jesus alive again? They had no answers—only confusion.

Instead of a story that endibg with justice, grace, hope, and mercy, they sensed a story ending with loss, broken dreams, and confusion. That’s just when Jesus showed up.

When he happened upon them, they had no idea who he was. They were so lost in their own thoughts or perhaps there was something different about the resurrected Jesus. Either way, they didn’t know him…and he didn’t let on. He asked about what they were discussing, and they told him—Jesus the Messiah, prophet and miracle worker, arrested, put to death…and with his death, the death of their dreams. For them, a story with a bad ending.

Jesus turned their minds around and took them on a journey through the Old Testament…from the books of Moses through the prophets. He pointed out how all of these told the story of the coming Messiah. Jesus revealed that the Scriptures revealed him. And, he showed them that the story didn’t end wrong; the story simply hadn’t ended as yet! The story would continue to play out, and the ending would be one of justice, grace, hope, and mercy.

We learn from this encounter and exchange that we, too, encounter Jesus in Scripture. Jesus speaks to us through the Bible. We need to encounter Jesus in Scripture because he comes to us as well helping us make sense of our loss, our broken dreams, and our confusion. We learn from Jesus that our story, too, will end with justice, grace, hope, and mercy. Jesus comes to us through Scripture…just when we need him.

Sunday, April 27, 2025
“Jesus in … Scripture”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Quiet Resurrection"

 

Luke 24:1-12

That first Easter morning arrived without a bang. No sound-and-lights show. Just another day of work for the people in Jerusalem. Jesus died and rose again with no fanfare. A good PR person could have made the day quite memorable. But for the most part, Jerusalem woke up, got up, and went about their day like it was any other Rishon (Sunday).

Really, we shouldn’t be surprised, right? I mean, look at the birth that we celebrated just 16 weeks ago. Jesus, the Son of God, born into the world…and basically nothing. A few shepherds, some ‘wise-guys’ from the East, and Mary and Joseph. The rest of Bethlehem went to sleep and woke up, and they were none the wiser. Again, we find this same thing at the death and resurrection—basically non-events for the world around. Why this way?

Jesus gives us a hint. Luke tells the story of the temptation in the desert in chapter four of his Gospel. One of the temptations involved jumping off the top of the Temple and making a huge scene before the whole city. Jesus rejected that. If he had done it, he could have reduced a three-year ministry down to one day! Everyone would have known Jesus…and his ‘other worldliness’. But, in rejecting that path, that approach, Jesus made it very clear: He prefers friends over fans, family over fanatics.

We’re all fans of someone or something, for sure. I’m a fan of Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep, amazing actresses. Many are fans of sports figures, movie stars, and politicos. But, a fandom is a one-way connection. I can know about the people I’m a fan of, but they never know me. I’m more than a fan of Eugene Peterson, author of The Message and many other books. I’m more than a fan because I wrote him a letter, and he wrote me back, and I wrote another, and he wrote me again…so, I moved from fan to…pen-pal? Something a little more. When he died in 2018, maybe I felt a sense of loss a little more than the average fan…?

Jesus wants more than fans. Jesus showed us through his life that he wants to connect with people. He walked the roads of Judea and talked with people. He sat on the grass and told stories and listened to stories. He reached out to touch and heal the sick…and reached out to touch and bless the children. He poured his life into his disciples…and expected them (and us!) to live the same way.

So, Resurrection morning was a quiet affair, even quieter than our own Resurrection Sunday this week. We gathered and sang and celebrated…but the world around us just went about their day—cutting grass, shopping, working, preparing for a carne asada. Like Jerusalem (Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth), our world waits for us to walk alongside and tell them the story. Our work, it seems, is to live this quiet yet impactful disciple-life that Jesus calls us to so that others might move from fan to friend, from fanatic to family, and know the Life God has for us all. Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 20, 2025
“A Quiet Resurrection”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Jerusalem - Finally!"

 

Luke 19:29-40

Today’s reading is often referred to as “the Triumphal Entry”…the culmination of Jesus’ last season of ministry that began in Caesaria Phillipi. Luke narrates the entry…an entry devoid of parables, teachings, or miracles (unless we count Jesus’ arrival without being arrested or murdered a miracle!).  But, if this account lacks all of this, is there anything to take away?

Of course, Jesus’ arrival on a donkey amidst cries of joy calls us back to Zachariah’s prophecy in the 6th Century B.C. The fulfillment of prophecy is important because it gives us confidence in the Bible itself. If Jesus is fulfilling prophecy, that gives us confidence and trust in him. The folks who study prophecy have determined that Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in Scripture. We need something or someone we can trust or believe in this age of “fake news” and fluid truths. Between social media that say whatever they want and profit-fueled news outlets that cast the happenings to their own benefit, we hunger for something true. Perhaps this story from Jesus’ life reminds us that we can trust the Scriptures.

Or, perhaps this reading calls us to regard the disciples. They cry out “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”…words that barely register in our 21st Century minds, but fighting words in the 1st Century. We don’t think much about kings today in our world of feigned or real democracy. When the disciples shouted these words, they were simultaneously declaring that neither Caesar nor Herod were king. This cry, this declaration, was the cry of revolutionaries. They allowed nothing and no one to stand between them and their King Jesus. What about us today? Is Jesus—the person, the message, the call, the challenge of Jesus—first in our lives, or do we bow to other things, other people? Perhaps this story reminds us to hold fast to the foundational, revolutionary message and mission of Jesus.

This reading is the end of Jesus’ journey in one sense, but it’s also the beginning of a new journey—one spiritual instead of geographical. This passage marks the beginning of Holy Week. Too often we wave palms today, grab a quick Communion on Thurs. or Friday, and rush back next Sunday to celebrate. Perhaps—besides reminding us of trustworthiness of Scripture and our call to put Jesus first—perhaps this passage today invites us to slow down, to take a break—at least a little time each day—this week and remember what Jesus did and what he lived through during this week. Perhaps if we do that, Jesus will enter again into our lives…as he entered Jerusalem so long ago.

Sunday, April 13, 2025
“Jerusalem—Finally!”
Watch/Listen: HERE