Good Morning All,
Are you like me in that I like to watch
some movies over and over? There are
some movies that I just can’t watch enough.
Some of the nuances in the film can be missed the first time or
two. Sometimes you need to read some background
information on the film or the era of the film setting. Sometimes, you have to hear the line or see
the scene over and over to make it make sense.
Sometimes, it just has to “click” in your mind.
One of those movies we watch often is
“Forrest Gump.” It took a few times of
watching to hear the line where Forrest is asked if he had ever been on a
shrimp boat. He answers,” no but I’ve
been on a really big boat.” Bubba was
talking about the type of work that the boat did, as in a boat that catches
shrimp. Forrest thought it meant the
size of the boat; he rode a big boat not a small (shrimp) boat. It takes some listening to truly hear the
comment and sometimes you have to have the right mood as well.
Our verse is part of the story of the two
disciples as they are on the road to Emmaus.
The then unrecognized Jesus joined them as they walked and talked about
the events of Jerusalem and the death of Jesus.
As he sat and talked with them, their hearts burned as he talked to
them. You can imagine that they had
heard his message many times during the three years that they had traveled with
him. Some of these stories they maybe
had witnessed or experienced as well.
They had probably experienced the feeding of the 5000; perhaps the
raising of Lazarus; perhaps they had heard him tell them that he would have to
die and in three days rise again.
These two disciples had heard it before but
this time it was different. This time
this message packed a wallop. Their
hearts burned. Their hearts burned with
the desire to really hear what God was saying to them. I must confess there are times when I read
and hear God’s Word like I have heard it over and over. It sometimes doesn’t have the impact that it
should. I assume that you are the same
way. However, God has a way of changing
our hearts. He can make them burn.
As the Spirit works on us, through the Word
and through the Sacrament, he brings to us the desire to believe that God truly
loves us. Jesus died for us to pay for
our sins. The resurrection is the sign
that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and that the victory over death has been
secured. So, as you read and listen to
God’s Word, listen with your heart on fire.
Hear anew the Words of forgiveness, the Words of hope and the Words of
life. Don’t just hear them with your ears,
hear them with your heart. If you need
comfort or hope hear God’s Words of comfort and hope. Know that this is part of God’s gift to you;
a message of hope and comfort that you can use today and every day. Christ is risen; he is risen indeed!
Dearest
Father, through the gift of Jesus you bring us hope and you bring us
comfort. Never let your words become
mundane or meaningless. Keep our hearts
burning on zeal for you and that we take each word to heart and grow closer to
you trusting in your promise. In the
name of our risen Savior we pray, amen.
God’s
Peace,
Pastor
Bret
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