Week 32 - A Body for the Spirit
Theme:
Jesus himself is the heart of the body,
which receives his Spirit: the Church.
He is still the teacher,
who appeals to our hearts.
It will always be about faith,
about constantly looking towards God.
I place myself before God who is looking at me with love.
Very lovingly He invites me to be a body for his Spirit. He doesn’t put any pressure on me but gently beckons me.
Maybe I wish to ask:
That I can let the risen Lord
do his work through me;
that I let myself be touched by his power,
and allow that power to enter me;
that I can be an apostle.
Music: Christ Has No Body Now but Yours. The Porter’s Gate: Josh Garrels.
Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes with which He sees
Yours are the feet with which He walks
Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world
Yours are the hands
Luke 24, 13-17
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.
Jesus is dead. Two of his disciples are walking away from Jerusalem: disappointed, sad and without hope. They don’t recognize the risen Jesus, but they do listen attentively to him during the long walk to Emmaus.
What does this evoke in me. Maybe moments when I was unable to trust and felt a lack of hope? Or maybe moments when I just needed to listen to someone attentively.
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Luke 24, 28-33
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
The disciples who were walking to Emmaus recognise Christ when He blesses and breaks the bread. It happens in a flash. In imagination I try to take up a position in this scene and I look with full attention at the two disciples sitting at table. I see how intense this experience is for them. I huge change is taking place in their hearts. What happens in my heart when I look at them with all my attention?
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They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
What is described here in just a few words, is something truly miraculous. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, ….?” Hearts which are burning. Hearts which have let the Holy Spirit of Christ in and in that way become filled with new strength, energy and commitment. And they got up immediately and turned back: back to their everyday lives together with dear friends. I tarry a while and reflect on what is happening here and consider what effect this has on my own heart.
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Music: Christ Has No Body Now but Yours. The Porter’s Gate: Josh Garrels.