Dear La Côte friends and family,
Jesus himself came near and went with them
As we continue through this joyful season of Eastertide, this coming Sunday we will recall Luke’s account of two disciples walking to a village called Emmaus, very soon after Jesus’ death.
In the shadow of death and disillusionment they may well have been hotfooting it in fear for their lives, full of confusion and doubt about the one in whom they had such high hopes.
The writer of Luke describes how: “Jesus himself came near and went with them”.
He came near with a listening, pastoral presence in their upset. He asked: What are you discussing? “What things [have taken place in Jerusalem in these days]?
Only when he had heard how they saw things, did Jesus, (at this point unrecognised), begin to interpret the Scriptures and how the Messiah was part of God’s bigger story. Jesus identified himself fully with God’s people who were called to be a light to all nations, bearing witness to God’s love for all. He offered the troubled disciples a prophetic presence, helping them to see that the suffering servant of Israel was embodied in the Messiah. His sacrificial
love, compassion and humility was bound to threaten the authorities who would seek to get rid of him. As Jesus points out: “was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”
The risen Christ offers us his pastoral and prophetic presence today. I am thankful for the measured yet clear direction from Pope Leo, urging God’s people everywhere to follow in Jesus’ pastoral and prophetic way, made so clear in the Sermon on the Mount.
O Risen, conquering Love,
draw near to us and go with us.
May we know your blessing,
when we are merciful;
when we are peacemakers;
when we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us;
when, as with the Good Samaritan, we show mercy to the stranger.
O Risen, conquering Love,
draw near to us with your pastoral and prophetic presence.
As those first disciples’ eyes were opened when you took, blessed, broke and shared
bread, so meet us in bread and wine, and feed us with your life and love.
For your glory’s sake, Amen
Carolyn Cooke
