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OUR SERVICE FOR EASTER MONDAY “On the Road to Emmaus” April 1, 2024 Pastor Tom Steers, Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today our Lord continues to come to us in His Word, the Bible, and in His Sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Holy Baptism. The Holy Spirit works faith in Christ within us, opens our spiritual eyes, using these means of God's grace. Introit – (Psalm 78:13-15, 24-25; antiphon Psalm 78:4) 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. 14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 24 and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. 25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Our Collect Prayer of the Day: O God, in the Paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings: Old Testament -- Exodus 15:1-8 The Gradual (adapted from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6) Christ has risen from the dead. [God the Father] has crowned him with glory and honour, He has given him dominion over the works of his hands; he has put all things under his feet. Second Reading – Acts 10:34-43 (Gentiles hear the Good News) Verse – 2nd Timothy 1:10b Alleluia. [Christ Jesus] abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia. Gospel Reading – Luke 24:13-35 On the Road to Emmaus “13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 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 happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Our Hymn of the Day: “Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow” Lutheran Service Book, 476 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS462LCrbQs Our message today comes to us through the writings of Martin Luther, Reformer of the Church. Luther reflects on the ‘sermon’ that the risen Christ preached to the two disciples as they traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus: “Therefore, Scripture is the kind of book which requires not only reading and preaching but also the true Exegete, namely, the revelation of the Holy Spirit. “In our time we see in our own experience that, when we prove most clearly from Scripture the articles of pure doctrine and refute the errors of our opponents, it does not help them. There has never been any article of faith preached which was not more than once attacked and contradicted by the heretics, who, after all, read the same Scriptures that we have. “This revelation also requires true students who want to be taught and instructed (like these simple, godly disciples), not sophists and obstinate spirits and self-made masters who with their cleverness reach far above the heavens. This is the kind of doctrine which makes our wisdom into folly and puts out the eyes of our reason, if it is to be believed and understood. It does not come from human wisdom like other teachings and knowledge on earth, which have come from reason and can again be grasped by reason. “That is why it is impossible to grasp this [revelation] with our reason; and if you presume to measure and calculate how far [the revelation] agrees with [reason], you will not succeed. All heresies from the beginning have arisen from [reason], and both Jews, Gentiles, and now the Turks become frantic and wild about our doctrine and faith because it does not conform to reason and human wisdom. Only the godly, simple people who hold to this course and say, “God said it; therefore, I will believe it,” can grasp and understand how Christ Himself speaks and thanks God from a happy heart that He “had hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” [Matthew 11:25]. “There is no help for it—we cannot instruct wise people and high reason in the wonderful things about Christ: that a natural man is God’s Son from eternity and yet died and rose again and became Lord in heaven and earth in His human nature, and rules all creatures with divine power even though no one sees Him; and that we are saved only for His sake, if we believe in Him, etc. Therefore, God had to set it up in this way: that whoever does not want to be a fool and a child and simply believe shall not grasp it.” (From Luther’s Works, volume 77, pages 51–53.) The Apostles’ Creed – I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer – Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Benediction – The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. http://christlutherantoronto.org/beliefs