Devotion: Were Not Our Hearts Burning
Please take a moment to read Luke 24:13-35
On the night of Jesus’ resurrection, two friends were walking back to their homes filled with absolute confusion, anxiety, and the heartfelt loss of their friend, Jesus. The two men had been unprepared for the shocking incidents of the past week; the world as they knew it had been turned upside down.
My husband, Steve, and I experienced the same overwhelming confusion and chaos when his father was killed in a train/car accident during a blizzard in January, 1979. We simply could not comprehend that the man we loved so much was no longer with us. Steve’s mother, only 61 years old, grieved uncontrollably. Only 27 and 26, Steve and I had never experienced such a shocking loss and were unprepared to step into our new roles. Relatives and friends rushed to share our pain, but then they returned home. Suddenly we had to face a lonely world without the person we all desperately needed.
At such difficult times, we humans can feel alone like Cleopas and his friend. However, Luke’s Gospel reminds us that God is there beside us. How can we know? Using Cleopas and his friend as examples, we see that their spirits were renewed as Jesus explained the Scriptures and reminded them that this was foretold. Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? Their hearts “burned” when listening to Jesus share the scriptures. Luke demonstrates that reading the Scripture brings clarity to the chaos around us.
Secondly, the friends didn’t fully comprehend that it was truly their Savior who had walked alongside them until the breaking of their bread. In the same respect, God reveals Himself to us in the sacraments especially when we interact within our faith-filled community. When we meditate on the Word of God, our hearts and minds can be opened to recognize Jesus’ presence; then each time we participate in Holy Communion with others, we sense the spirit of fellowship and are no longer alone.
Lastly, we can also experience Jesus’ presence daily as we walk through our hectic lives. As we look into the faces of people whom we encounter, our hearts will then burn as we acknowledge Jesus in their acts of kindness, compassion, and conviction. Then in the same respect, we will continue to burn with joy while serving others with our fresh eyes of faith.
Some of us, like myself, can be too busy looking down at the rocks in the road and are not able to look ahead for the signs. But as I, like Cleopas and his friend, listen to the Scriptures, mediate on the messages, and break bread with my church community, my heart will open to the clarity of Jesus’ words.
Let us pray:
Lord, we rejoice in your daily presence in our lives. Bless our efforts as we demonstrate the love of Christ to all those who we meet so that we can share the message of your love. Amen.
Written by Glenda Clare
Glenda and her husband, Steve, have been Sheridan Lutheran members since 2003. Glenda enjoys reading, writing, and caring for her granddaughter, Rose.