Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Mission as Sharing Christ
Luke 24:36-49
v36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
The resurrection and its aftermath, described by Luke, very well explain how the disciples misunderstood what Jesus had communicated to them during his earthly life. The Emmaus narrative is a good example. Each post resurrection appearance of Jesus in Luke tries to clarify the complexities of resurrection created in the minds of the disciples. It also explains the divine essence and function of the risen Lord. In Emmaus experience, the risen Lord is a co-traveller or a sojourner. The two disciples hastily return to Jerusalem and narrate what happened to them on the way to Emmaus. With real awe and wonder they explain the experience of the real presence of the risen Lord. They are overwhelmed by the fact that Peter also got an experience with the risen lord. The particular passage explains another experience of the risen Lord with the disciples. Here the Lord clarifies the purpose of this experience and the mission to be accomplished. God has a mission on the earth. He prepares us through different experiences to fulfil His mission. Gospel is to share Christ to this world. Let us think how we can share Christ to the present world.

Share Christ as the Peace Giver
Jesus appears to the disciples and said “Peace be With You…” It was the time when all the disciples were in a desperate situation. What they really needed was hope. Jesus is trying to say not to be stranded but be determined to go on. In other words, He intends to say “I am with You”. This is exactly His name ‘Emmanuel’ indicates. In His appearance Jesus asks two questions; “why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?” The disciples doubt whether Jesus is a disembodied spirt or real physical body. Luke establishes that Jesus resurrected with his physical body. Peace is often related with mind. Jesus says that ‘the source of your peace is my presence with you’. In Kingdom of God, we are called to be the peace makers. It really involves assuring our presence which is rooted in the presence of the risen Lord.

Share Christ through the Word of God
Jesus explains that his life, teaching and mission have been recorded in the scripture i.e. in law, psalms and prophets. Its fulfillment in his life is God’s ultimate plan on Him. Hence there is co-relation between what is happening and what has been recorded already. Skipping either or both will end up in danger. He thus helps them to widen the contours of their thinking to understand the scriptures (v45). The word of God should be meditated in the light of divine presence and guidance, instead of the comfort of the individual. What is our approach towards the word of God? Does it lead us to take part in the divine purpose of the Lord? During this pandemic situation let us turn to the real meaning of the word of God. Let us make a meaningful action plan for today in the light of the heart breaking reality of the global uncertainties. Let us pray to the lord to open our minds and beseech his guidance to understand the divine purpose at this juncture of history.

Share Christ through Witnessing
Witnessing is ‘with-nessing’ in the life of disciple. Jesus commands them to stay until they are clothed with power from on high (v49). Mission is the enactment of one’s life with power from High. Holy Spirit has empowered them for the ministry on Pentecost day. It indicates that we need to be empowered by the Transcendent Reality to face the imminent reality. We are the connecting link between the two. Hence Witnessing is being with the imminent realty to transform it with the power of the Transcendent Reality.  Witnessing is being with the people and their suffering to and working for a positive change with the power from above. It is not merely a reciprocate act of gratitude to God rather it demands our life itself. When our front-line workers served the people in the pandemic situation by ignoring their life or at times risking their life towards the welfare the whole world, it really points to what our Lord meant by Witnessing, a witnessing with a power from above.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God” – William Carey
 
 PRAYER
Emmanuel God be with us always, empower us with Thy Spirit that we, with guidance from the Spirit and Word of God, become blessings for many… Amen

Rev. Mathew Varghese, St. John’s Mar Thoma Church, New York
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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