Rembrandt on The Road To Emmaus

The Collect

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

¶ The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Acts 2.14a,36-41

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, ‘Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added to their number.

Psalm 116.1-3,10-17

I love the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my supplication; * because he inclined his ear to me on the day I called to him.
The snares of death encompassed me; the pains of hell took hold of me; * by grief and sorrow was I held.
Then I called upon the name of the Lord: * ‘O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.’
How shall I repay the Lord * for all the benefits he has given to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation * and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord * in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord * is the death of his faithful servants.
O Lord, I am your servant, * your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer to you a sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord * in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the Lord, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Alleluia.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1.17-23

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Gospel Reading: Luke 24.13-35

On that same day, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ Jesus asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see Jesus.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 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 Jesus; 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.

Prayers of Intercession

In these fifty days of Eastertide, we move from the narrative of events to considering our response to the death and resurrection of Our Lord. This week the journey of Cleopas and his fellow disciple, and their encounter on the road to Emmaus, chime with one of the oldest themes in literature, that of travellers meeting someone on the journey who, like the Tardis, is bigger inside than they appear to be at first glance.

Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.
Alleluia.

¶The Church of Christ

Lord, we thank you that through the living presence of the Eucharist you have promised us a link through the ages with your holy Trinity. The very simplicity  of breaking bread and pouring wine becomes* a living miracle through which you feed our hearts. As we sense your life stream through our senses, energising our minds, permeating our very being, we give thanks for the intimacy you offer. May this manna transform us into cells of the body of Christ, enabling us to work for the coming of your kingdom.

Lord, help us to see through the mists  and distortions of this world to your reality beyond: in your mercy hear our prayer

¶Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

Lord, our companion on the journey, let us not be so caught up in worldly cares that we forget you are with us everywhere. Your supporting presence guides us through the night so that we can approach you, sparkling source of light. Shine through the mists, the deadening heavy clay. Purifying Spirit, burn the dross away. You are gentler weather after winter’s rains, and a wayside resting place soothing journey’s strains. Though out in front, protect us with yourself: you’re our destination and the road itself.**

Lord, help us to see through the mists  and distortions of this world to your reality beyond: in your mercy hear our prayer

¶The local community

Lord, help us to reach out to strangers in our midst, mindful that we are all embarked on the journey of life together. Then, though our intentions may be directed outwards, may we have the humility and openness to recognise the insight and blessing we may ourselves derive from such human contact, even in the strangest or most mundane of circumstances. For some, being not forgetful to entertain strangers, have found that they have thereby entertained angels unawares.

Lord, help us to see through the mists  and distortions of this world to your reality beyond: in your mercy hear our prayer

¶Those who suffer

Lord, we pray for all who suffer, whether their suffering may be physical or spiritual. Knowing within ourselves some of the cost, give us the grace also to suffer and share some of their pain. Spurred to stretch out a hand to those in pain, may we stretch out also a hand to our suffering Saviour, who feels not sentimentality but the sharp edge of love as he contemplates our world. And then, in a threefold circle of healing, may we too be ready to receive his blessing.

Lord, help us to see through the mists  and distortions of this world to your reality beyond: in your mercy hear our prayer

¶The communion of saints

Lord, we pray for those who have gone ahead to that still place where flesh and spirit part. Lord, may they rest in your love and peace, encircled by the music of heavenly choirs and celestial spheres.

Lord, help us to see through the mists  and distortions of this world to your reality beyond: in your mercy hear our prayer

*I follow Queen Elizabeth I:

Christ was the word that spake it.
He took the bread and brake it;
And what his words did make it
That I believe and take it.

You may need to tweak this up or down to suit your congregation?

**This is a prayer by June Boyce-Tillman, based on Alfred’s translation of Beothius.

^{Copyright acknowledgement:Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000}