encounter, sunday

Sunday, May 10

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see you, as you walk along with us on this journey of life.  Help us to pay careful attention to the people and the words and the events that cause our hearts to burn within us.  Because when our hearts are burning inside it is because, whether we realize it or not, we are somehow encountering you.  Amen.

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Journal: What is causing your heart to burn within you these days?  How is God trying to get your attention through that?  What is he trying to say?

Reflection:

 

     God is always the initiator.  Sometimes we do not recognize it, but that does make it any less true.  In this case, Jesus had been with these journeyers long enough to where you would have thought they would have recognized his presence among them before they did.  But then again, for some mysterious reason, they were being kept from recognizing him until just the right time. 

     Finally, as he was taking, blessing, breaking, and giving the bread and the wine their eyes were opened.  Maybe they recognized that familiar pattern, for he had done it a number of times before.  But whatever the reason, their eyes were nonetheless opened and then he immediately vanished from their sight.  At that point they realized what was going on inside of them—their hearts were burning within them.  And it was a burning that could not be contained, for as soon as they recognized it they ran off to share it with their friends.  That’s how this burning of God’s Spirit works. 

     And we would do well to notice that pattern ourselves.  Then maybe we would pay a little better attention as we walk through the seemingly ordinary moments of our days.  Then maybe we would be able to recognize the fire going on in our souls a little sooner.  Then maybe that fire would more quickly grow into an all-consuming flame.  And then maybe, just maybe, that fire would more quickly and more powerfully spread to those in our lives and in our world. 

Prayers

Closing Prayer: Set a fire down in my soul; that I can’t contain, that I can’t control.  I want more of you, God.  I want more of you, God. (Set a Fire by Will Reagan and United Pursuit)