When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.

They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them

in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:30-36).

Jesus is on the loose! As they are telling the story about the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appears to all of them and says, “Peace be with you.” They look at Jesus like he is a ghost. Jesus eats a piece of fish and tells them about how his death and resurrection was all part of God’s plan. Thus is it is written that the Messiah is to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be proclaimed in his name to all nations. Everyone must realize that Christ died that we might have new hope and new possibilities. Christ’s resurrection was part of God’s plan to convince us to follow Christ and change the world to God’s love. We are the marks in the hands and the sides that are the proof of Christ’s resurrection.

Church has to be more than just a place we worship on Sunday morning. We need to be a vital part of the community. As we emerge from this pandemic, lots of folks will be looking to re-establish the connections that they have lost in the past year. We have a golden opportunity to show our hospitality to newcomers and old friends. God is working in ways that we can’t even ask or imagine. Feel his presence in the breaking of the bread. Open your eyes to the presence of the Lord in our midst, not just on Sundays, but as you prepare meals for the sick, hunger for peace and justice, help the naked by serving in our thrift shop, help our community through Laundry Love, visit those who cannot be with us, care for those in prison, feed those who are hungry through our local food pantries, and most of all to show hospitality to all those who join our zoom, Facebook stream, or enter our church. This week, we will contact all Lay Eucharistic Visitors and ask you if you are ready to start visitations again in June or July. Please let Coral know if you are interested in visiting members of our parish that have been isolated by the pandemic. Nancy is looking for lots of help in the thrift shop. If you are interested in helping with any of our ministries at St. John’s, please let me know. Alex will be coming back to St. John’s on May 23rd. Please let him know if you would like to sing in person. The pandemic has done great harm to many in our community and the church needs to be the loving arms of Christ to those in pain. Christ is on the loose at St. John’s because we are loved, forgiven, and empowered by God. May your hearts burn with passion as you proclaim the Gospel and serve the community.

In Christ's love,

Fr. Duncan

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