Regional Assembly
Scripture Reflection
Luke 24:13-35
As we have been preparing for Regional Assembly moving in an out of our Luke 24 text, I've been looking ahead to life after assembly and life after this chapter of scripture. Below see what happens after the people on the Emmaus Road run back toward the other Disciples.
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
When the walkers get back to the other Disciples they see Jesus as a group. What I love about this passage is how Jesus uses every learning style, communication style to get them to see him present.
- He speaks peace and reminds them of their relationship
- He tries to calm their trauma/fear at seeing the dead alive again for those that let fear take over
- He invites them to look at his wounds and use the power of their sight for those who learn by seeing
- He asks them to touch him for those who learn by physical experience
- He eats with them to remind them of their common experience and history with each other as community
- He reminds them of scriptural narrative that they share to put the experience into context.
It's like he says, "breathe, look, listen, be with each other, remember who you are together, remember the scriptural stories that hold us together." Breathe together, remember together, share together.
This is what we will do in the wake of our Bible text this weekend. We will be together in person and on line. We will remember scripture. We will make hygiene kits of neighbors. We will remember our history and stretch into our future. We will have important conversations about our congregations resources for our life ahead. We will be seeing each other in a large group for the first time since 2018. Over 30 congregations of our 44 are sending people to Regional Assembly.
It has been 4 years since we did this assembly experience.
We are ready. We are packing. We are preparing. We are wondering what comes next. And we will be together. Praise be and see you soon. Only 4 more sleeps.
