(Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
Prayer: God who becomes small
Whom have we, Lord, like you –
the Great One who became small, the Wakeful who slept,
the Pure One who was baptised, the Living One who died,
the King who abased himself to ensure honour for all.
Blessed is your honour!
It is right that we should acknowledge your divinity,
it is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
and earthly ones to see how exalted. Amen.
St Ephrem the Syrian, c. 306-373
(Sourced from A Treasury of Prayers in Uniting in Worship, copyright 1988 Uniting Church in Australia)
Read:
Luke 24:13-32. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
On the Road to Emmaus
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.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, 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 continued on 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?”
(Lk 24:13-32 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
“What would you ask God when you get to heaven?” This is a well-known question by people (including me) who are confused by things that happen in this world. The question becomes less adversarial when we imagine ourselves going for a walk with God and asking an honest question as we go. There is a sense of warmth surrounding going for a walk together. What question you would ask God in these circumstances?
The Luke passage appears to be just like this except for one detail; it is the newly risen Jesus who asks the question of his two companions on the road to Emmaus not the other way around. So let us re-imagine our earlier walk with God. What do you think God might ask of you in your friendly walk along the path?