April 7,2024
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
" Christ in the Ordinary"
Sermon by Rev. Trip Porch
April 7, 2024 Based on Luke 24:13-35
I was thinking back to my days as a teen in the church youth group recently. Specifically thinking about a question that we were asked at almost every gathering “Where have you seen God today?" We'd all scratch our heads and fidget, searching for some grand, earth-shattering encounter out of what was otherwise a perfectly boring day, until at last someone spoke… Maybe it was how they did have to get up really early to go to swim practice but even though they were half asleep they did catch a breathtaking sunrise, or maybe it was some grand act of heroism someone had witnessed in the news, a profoundly good or kind thing that was undeniably God-breathed. But sometimes, or let's be honest most times, the day we were considering just felt… ordinary. Breakfast, homework, the bus ride – where in this mundane routine could God possibly be hiding? When asked the God question on those days I’d most likely shrug my shoulders, and try to get our youth leader to skip over me and go to the next kid who would have definitely had a better answer to that question.
The truth is when we are asked where we see God… We picture burning bushes and booming voices, we think of parting seas and fiery chariots. We wait for that lightning bolt moment, that undeniable sign that screams, "Divine intervention here!"
But what if that's not how it works? What if God is far more subtle, far more common… what if God is actually woven into the fabric of our everyday lives? Take our scripture from today, the two disciples walking along the road to Emmaus after Jesus' resurrection. Imagine the whirlwind of emotions they were grappling with. Grief. Confusion. Disillusionment. Their hope had been pinned on Jesus and now they felt utterly shattered.
While the circumstances of the trip were far from ordinary… what they are doing was, they are walking, traveling by foot some 8 miles to Emmaus. They are walking along discussing these things they had seen in Jerusalem as well as all the rumors that had been stirring since, spoken of in hushed tones, that the tomb was empty, that Jesus had risen.
As they were walking, a fellow traveler comes alongside them, a stranger they didn’t know. They pour out their hearts to him as they walk together. As they talk about Jesus, and all that just happened in Jerusalem, he doesn’t jump to answers or pronouncements, but listens, offering a presence of solace and comfort in their despair. The stranger then starts talking about the scriptures and together they find clarity in the ancient texts, and the beginning of understanding about what God might be up to.
Finally, after their walk which was something like 8 miles, they reach their destination and invite this stranger to stay and share a meal with them. They sit down together, and then the stranger takes bread, and breaks it to share with them. And it’s here in the breaking of bread, the simplest of acts, that their eyes were opened. They recognize Jesus.
They see him in this stranger who is doing something so familiar to the Christ they knew, breaking bread. One moment they recognize him, the next he vanishes. It’s a fleeting thing. Think about that. The grand revelation wasn't some dramatic display; it was a quiet awakening in the midst of an ordinary act, gone almost as soon it appeared.
Maybe that's the key. Maybe the "God moments” we crave in our life aren't these dramatic, heightened experiences, but rather moments of mindfulness, of intentional awareness throughout our ordinary days, throughout our mundane weeks. Maybe God has been walking beside us all along, but the noise of our daily lives drowns God out.
The breaking of bread at Emmaus wasn't the moment Christ appeared; it was the moment the disciples finally noticed him, finally quieted their hearts enough to recognize the presence that had been there the whole time.
After they recognize him it sparks them to think back to their walk, the rich conversations they were having as they travelled, the way the stranger taught them, and they began to realize Christ was with them all along.
What if "God moments" are simply an act of mindfulness, a conscious choice to quiet the chatter and open ourselves to the Divine that walks beside us every step of the way?
What if God isn't hiding in the extraordinary things of this world, but waiting to be seen in the ordinary if only we stop to pay attention?
What if God is always there in the shared meal with family, in the quiet moments of nature, in the kindness exchanged with a stranger?
The Breaking of bread opened their eyes to Christ, and that moment helped them recognize all of the other ways that Christ had been present with them.
What if that is the point of communion? What if that is the point of worship? To wake us up to the God who isn’t just present here, but has been with us all along?
What if we started looking for God not just in heightened moments, or in time set apart at the communion table, but in the everyday tapestry of our lives? What if we carried that awareness throughout the day, throughout the week?
What might we discover about the Divine presence that has always been there, waiting to be noticed, waiting to be acknowledged?
In a moment, we will be at table with each other for Jesus’ meal… let us approach this communion not just as a some ritual, but as an invitation to encounter the risen Christ. Let us open our hearts to his presence here, so that as we go into our lives, we might begin to recognize him walking alongside us everywhere.
Until we ask ourselves… Where have you seen God, and are able to answer… in the birdsong of the morning, In the jogger who picked up litter, in the child who draw a picture for a friend. May the breaking of this bread open our eyes to Jesus who still lives and is appearing everywhere in our lives.
Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” Lewis D. Edwards, arr. Susan W. Henry
INTROIT “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” Ludwig van Beethoven
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it
*CALL TO WORSHIP by Thom Shuman
One: Where shattered hearts are made whole,
where wounded souls are healed,
where life is stronger than death:
All: there, the stone has been rolled away.
One: Where the lonely become our friends,
where a stranger is welcomed home,
where hope is stronger than despair,
All: there, we find Jesus walking.
One: Where closed wallets are opened,
where the anxious find serenity,
where love is stronger than hate:
All: there, Jesus is opening our eyes
One: The stone has been rolled away!
Jesus is our companion on the journey!
Our eyes are opened to the needs of others!
All: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Alleluia! Christ is with us!
*HYMN 246 “Christ Is Alive!” TRURO
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Brian Roe
O Jesus Christ, sometimes we are so busy talking with each other that we fail to find you beside us. We walk on, so focused on our questions that we do not create the silent spaces which would allow you to speak with us and enlighten our journeying.
Silent reflection
Stay with us, Jesus Christ.
Reach out towards us and invite us to pause and meet with you, we pray.
We call your name, O Christ, and hope to discover you here in our community of vulnerable faith. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 243 “Be Not Afraid” BE NOT AFRAID
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Credo” from Gospel Mass Robert Ray
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Luke 24:13-35
On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him.
He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast.
The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”
He said to them, “What things?”
They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.
When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”
They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Jeremy Carroll
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND T O GOD’S WORD
* HYMN 517 “Here, O Our Lord, We See You” MORECAMBE
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFERTORY “Dawn’s Awakening” Florence Price
Marlon Haughton, Baritone; Sophia Haws, piano
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP 520 “Taste and See” TASTE AND SEE
*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Gracious God, Thank you for surprising us here in this meal and meeting us with nourishment for our bodies and souls. As we leave this table, may we see the world through new eyes, recognizing the presence of Christ in the people we meet and the situations we encounter. May we be instruments of your love, sharing your compassion and hope with a world that desperately needs it. May this meal be a catalyst for transformation, leading us to live with greater purpose and love. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
*HYMN 295 “Go to the World!” SINE NOMINE
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*CHORAL RESPONSE “Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing” 18th century Sicilian melody
POSTLUDE “Sheep May Safely Graze” from Cantata No. 208 b J.S. Bach, arr. Timothy Brown
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452