Hearts Burning Within

Hearts Burning Within

10:30 am, Sunday, May 4, 2014, Windsor UBC, J G White

Luke 24:13-16, 27-32

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

For me this has been a powerful a story, through many years of worshipping the Lord.  Yet this wonderful ‘hearts burning within’ was not at a worship service.  We tend to connect this Resurrection Day story with our coming to the Lord’s Table: Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and shared with those two disciples.  But it happens at an evening meal among travellers.  And the actual ‘burning’ of their hearts within them was during the walk, while this ‘stranger’ talked with them, and as they considered the scripture together.

We have walked and talked with Him a long time now together, more than twelve years.  We have shared some moments of the fire of God within us!  Even when we did not fully know what the Lord, the Spirit, was up to.  We have also shared the dullness and melancholy of the times our souls wandered in the desert.  We have come face-to-face with death; we have enjoyed new life. In all these places, has not our Lord been real, and beautiful, and incredible!

I thank you, and my God, today, for the high privilege of leading you, month by month, year by year, to the Lord’s Table.  Though we are quite traditional about our ceremony, notice this still is simply white bread cut up in small pieces, it is little sips of grape juice. Ordinary stuff of life.  It is a very quiet meal.  There will be chewing; there will be slurping; the occasional cough.  In the ordinary our Living God breaks through.  May we feed on Christ in our hearts, and know that He sustains our souls. 

May you continue in this fellowship in all the years ahead that the Lord God has for you.  May your communion be sweet, and your joy be full.  And may you testify, from time to time, in your walk together, that your hearts burned within.