The dinner table is the cradle of faith

The dinner table is the cradle of faith.

After walking with them on the road to Emmaus, Jesus is invited into the homes of his disciples, even though they don't recognize him (yet!).  While they break bread together for the evening meal. Jesus reveals himself.  While a surprise to them, it is not a surprise to us because the resurrected Jesus routinely appears to his disciples over meals; throughout the Gospels he is eating with people.

Today St Paul has four baptisms of children and Pastor Rob offers that the cradle of faith is the dining table.  It is where prayer is taught; it is where we can begin processing our stories and see God at work in our lives.

Eventually, our children - the next generation - leaves our dinner table, but they remain our companions, both around the Lord's table and ultimately the feast that has no end.

God doesn't ghost

We live in a throwaway culture, in which things are discarded, ideas canceled, and people ghosted. 

The story of Jesus returning from the grave to meet the fearful disciples and then again to meet Thomas (John 20:19-31) shows that God is interested neither in ghosting us, nor canceling us nor discarding us.  God doesn't ghost.

The forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body proclaimed in this story beautifully show how God will never let us go, even in the darkest of times.

Note:  There is a bit of a coda at the end of the sermon, which includes some words I said to the congregation at the end of the sermon about a pastoral care visit I would make that afternoon.

Rejoicing at the Crossroads of fear and joy

The women walked away from the tomb with fear AND great joy.  (Matthew 28:8)

Life is often lived to the crossroads of fear and joy.  Graduations, new jobs, diagnoses, pregnancies all give rise to both fears and joy.  Easter as well brings both joy... but also comes with some fears too.

It is tough to live at this crossroads because our culture constantly pummels us with messages of fear.  Like the soldiers at the tomb, we can become paralyzed be fear.  Yet, the risen Christ comes to us and declares to us "Rejoice!"

It turns out the one saying "Rejoice" isn't running away from the tombs or the problems of the world, but knows them -- knows them in his body -- and has overcome them.

A message for all those who find themselves living at the crossroads of fear and joy.