Clarendon Park Congregational Church
4th May 2025
The road to Emmaus
I stand before you today on the third anniversary of my being called to ministry at this great church. As I enter my fourth year, I can say that the honour is greater than ever. We have had good times, and bad, but we stick together. We have each other, and we have Jesus.
Now, there are many texts that provide solid foundations for ministry, today’s text is one.
The passage from Luke begins with two disciples on their way back home to Emmaus. They have just left Jerusalem, and are walking back home. They are sad and confused. Sad because their hope died on a cross, and was buried in a tomb. Confused, though, because they have heard reports that the tomb was found empty by the women who went there, and that there were angels telling them that Jesus was alive. Although no one had yet seen Him. So, you can imagine their conversation as they walked back home that day.
And while they were talking about all these things, Jesus himself joined them but, we are told, their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And what did Jesus do when He joined them on their journey? First, He listened to them. He asked them a simple, open-ended question, and then He listened to their answer. ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ He asked. Of course, Jesus knew what they were discussing. But He still wanted to listen to them. Jesus wants to know what is happening with all of us. In our own words. And so, in this story, Cleopas and his friend share what is in their hearts. Standing still, looking sad, they share their story. This reminds us, first of all, that the risen Jesus is walking with us through this life, even when we don’t recognize Him. But it also teaches us about how to share our faith with others. Because we can learn from Jesus. The best teacher. It is all in here.
Jesus teaches us that it all starts simply by joining someone on their journey: Walking with them. Talking to them. Listening to them. It starts there. To be present to them. Before we ever share our faith, we listen. As Jesus did.
When commencing ministry, I sought advice from many people. Two, Delia O’Halloran and Alan Argent, both gave the same advice in two simple words, ‘Be there’. Isn’t this what the Bible is telling us too in this passage?
After Jesus listened to Cleopas and his friend, He then opened the Bible. Not literally, as we do, but He began to interpret what Scripture had to say about His death and resurrection. As He spoke, their hearts burned. Their hearts burned with a fierce joy. Why? Because He helped them to see their story wrapped up in God’s story. And He helped them to understand that the cross was necessary. That everything Jesus did in His life and in His suffering was done out of love for us. And that it was all necessary to bring forgiveness, healing and hope to our sad, broken and sin-filled world. Oh how we wish the words of Jesus here were recorded! What a lesson that would have been. But even by hinting at what Jesus said, we can not only see our own lives, but can help others to see their lives through the lens of God’s grace and mercy. We can help them to better understand their place and purpose in this world, by helping them to see that they walk through this world with Jesus, who died for them, and is with them now. What a privilege it is to do this.
Now, it is also important to notice that Jesus does not just offer them those two disciples a pat on the back and a gesture of love. He also rebukes them for their lack of faith, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe,’ He says to them. Sometimes, in other words, when we look at our life through the lens of eternity, we don’t like what we see. We have wandered off the path. Or a friend has wandered off the path. Sometimes we need to hear, from our Lord or from a friend, a word of rebuke. Reminding us how foolish we are, and how slow of heart we can be to believe. And sometimes we might need to say that to another.
So, what is next? Well, Cleopas and his friend are nearing their home in Emmaus. Jesus walked ahead, as if He were going on. They still don’t know it is Jesus, but they urge him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’
So, let us think about that: Jesus doesn’t invite Himself into their home. He waits for an invitation. He teaches us to do that. And He does that for us. Jesus joins us on the journey without our asking, that’s true. But at some point, and maybe at a lot of points, He waits to be invited in. ‘Listen, I stand at the door, knocking,’ Jesus says in Revelation. ‘If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.’ Jesus comes to the doors of our hearts knocking, but He waits to be let in.
Now, once the disciples in Emmaus did invite Jesus in, they broke bread together. And this simple meal becomes holy. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. And then, their eyes are opened, and they recognize him. In the breaking of the bread. To some, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, is the summit of the Christian life. It is arguably the most important thing that we as Christians do. We worship the living God. It is amazing, when you read the Old Testament, to see how much of it is dedicated to proper worship, and to the building of the temple, or the restoring of the temple. In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is the temple; and that proper worship is all about gathering in Jesus’ name to do what we are doing today: To confess our sins, to hear God’s Word, to pray for our world, and then to bless and break the bread in remembrance of Him. And there really is nothing more important that we do than this. It may not always feel that way. But we trust that it is true. And we can pray that our eyes will be opened when we worship Jesus; and that we, like those disciples in Emmaus, will have Jesus made known to us in the breaking of the bread when we join in communion with Jesus shortly.
So let us never reduce the importance of faith and the ways in which Jesus reveals Himself to us, even when we are facing doubt and despair. He constantly encourages us to remain hopeful, even when we can't see Him clearly.
And let us not be too hard on ourselves for, as we know, sometimes the disciples themselves didn’t recognise Jesus. They knew Jesus as a person but were still often confused. But ultimately, they had faith.
So, do we realise and appreciate that Jesus is with us? Yes, we call out for Him when we are in need. Yes, we probably give thanks when things go well (although maybe not as much as we should). But ordinarily do we appreciate His presence? For He is with us.
So, may our eyes be opened, so that we can recognize Jesus in our midst. May our hearts burn with joy as we see our story wrapped up in His. And may we always be eager to share the joy of His resurrection and presence among us.
To the glory of God. Amen.
27th April 2025
St. George’s Day
When we think of George, the patron saint of this great land, we often bring to mind his slaying of the dragon. St George, perhaps more than anyone, not only epitomises England, but binds together our history, our legends, our ways, and our very psyche, with Christianity. The story of England, the story of Britain, is formed in Christianity. The Bible. And what traits come to mind when we think of George? Perhaps above all others, strength and courage. Therefore this morning’s readings are relevant to the day, especially the words we heard from Joshua 1.
For, this morning’s key text, taken from the beginning of the Book of Joshua focuses on the themes of leadership, obedience, and God's faithfulness. It emphasizes the importance of courage, strength, and trust in God, even when facing new and challenging circumstances. The passage highlights God's promise to be with Joshua and the Israelites, urging them to be strong, courageous, and obedient to God's law.
The book begins with the death of Moses and God's subsequent call to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua, being human, has doubts. God reassures Joshua that He will be with him, just as He was with Moses. The importance of Joshua's obedience to God's instructions, particularly the law given by Moses, is emphasised, and may be used to encourage us all to trust God's promises and to meditate on His word for guidance and strength.
At the heart of the text is the repeated command to Joshua to be strong and courageous. As with all Scripture, we can transfer the message to our own lives. We can use this passage as encouragement to face challenges with faith and boldness, knowing that God is always with us. Be strong and courageous.
The setting for the passage signifies a new chapter in the Israelites' journey. We can all align this to new beginnings in our own lives. We, like Joshua, may too be doubtful and nervous, but when God calls us to new beginnings and challenges He encourages us to trust in His guidance and strength. Gain strength through His strength.
For God is faithful. He was faithful in fulfilling His promises to Joshua and to the Israelites. He will be faithful to us too. This alone should build our strength. May we all trust in God's reliability and faithfulness in own lives.
For, as the Bible often states, courage isn't necessarily the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it, fuelled by faith and the strength of God. Scripture highlights the importance of being strong and steadfast, especially in challenging times, and reminds us that they we not alone in their struggles, as God is with us. For we all at times experience fear. Fear is a natural human emotion and true courage is the ability to move forward despite it, not to eliminate it. Let us not forget that even Jesus, despite His divine nature, experienced fear and doubt, as evidenced in the Garden of Gethsemane. In such times we must never forget God’s promises of protection, guidance, and provision, and know that we can find strength in His presence. The Christian journey is often not about speed or grand achievements, but about faithfulness until the end. We must never ignore the importance of persevering through trials and difficulties. One only needs to read about the exploits of Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress to understand this. But what fuels Christian’s courage? What fuels our courage? The same thing that fuelled Josua’s courage. Faith. For we need faith. We need faith to trust in God's goodness and promises, even when facing adversity.
And we must never forget, when speaking of courage, that it can be expressed in various ways, including speaking up for what is right, forgiving others, admitting mistakes, and seeking help when needed. Often small gestures still require courage. I would put to you today that it takes courage to witness our faith to others, to share our faith, and to live lives that reflect our beliefs.
And when we have courage to do these things, to inspire and encourage others, we can help to motivate those around us to overcome their fears and embrace their potential. So, even small acts of courage can have a ripple effect, leading to positive change in communities and families.
So let us all gain courage through God. Let us all put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and let us all wield the sword of the Spirit. For when we do this with faith, our strength rises and our courage grows.
Let us all attempt to face life's challenges with faith, strength, and perseverance, knowing that we are not alone and that God's strength is available to us. Available to us as it was to Joshua. As it was to George.
So let us conclude by returning to George. Instead of concentrating on the tale that we all know, that George slays the dragon and becomes a hero, may we continue the story to the lesser known ending in which the dragon returns in another form and, knowing his limitations, George strips naked and faces the dragon, accepting defeat and dying a martyr. This is a very Christian story, and highlights the message that there are different forms of courage; bravery in facing the dragon, but also standing up for what you believe, or stoically facing one’s problems quietly. Today we have heard and sung the words of John Bunyan who was imprisoned for his belief. John Penry, Henry Barrowe, and John Greenwood were martyred for standing for their dissenting beliefs. People died to allow us to continue our ways. We spoke a few weeks ago about Western civilisation and how it is built upon the twin pillars of Scripture and reason, Jerusalem and Athens. There are many forms of courage, but they all combine to form the core of our ways. Our unique ways of truth and myth, Scripture and imagination. Past, present, and future; the great new Jerusalem of William Blake of which we shall shortly sing.
And so, let us strive for that common place which brings together all the nations and peoples of this world into one. That common place of love built upon the Bible. Let us seek a kindred understanding and heart that loves our distinctive character as English, or Welsh, or African, or Romanian, or Bermudian, or whatever… That we stand for what and who we are. That we stand as one as individuals called to be neighbours, brothers and sisters. That we stand as one united in Jesus.
Because for George, for us and for all believers, it is Jesus first.
In His everlasting name.
Amen.