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| Washington Cathedral 3rd Station: Resurrection "The Walk to Emmaus" by Rowan LeCompte + Irene Matz LeCompte |
A Christian is the one who,
wherever he or she looks,
finds Christ and
rejoices in Him.
+ Alexander Schmemann,
For the Life of the World
Five Ancient, Yet Fresh Words
For many when they consider Jesus, they think of a religious building's space and all the negative, neutral, or curious things that happened there. After all, a service of worship, or mass for most people in Massachusetts, can be a bit of an odd, mysterious thing.
Why do people do this religious stuff
like gathering together on a weekend
to pray, listen, and maybe even sing?
Why is it called a mass?
What is it for?
Is it just a tradition,
a means to brainwash a person
into a certain set of morals or sayings,
or a time to receive good advice for life?
Or is it more?
like gathering together on a weekend
to pray, listen, and maybe even sing?
Why is it called a mass?
What is it for?
Is it just a tradition,
a means to brainwash a person
into a certain set of morals or sayings,
or a time to receive good advice for life?
Or is it more?
Five ancient, yet fresh words –
liturgy, ekklesia, catholic, sacrament, and mass
– have helped me engage the questions above.
liturgy, ekklesia, catholic, sacrament, and mass
– have helped me engage the questions above.
Liturgy
means the
"work of the people"
(John 6:29).
means the
"work of the people"
(John 6:29).
Ekklesia
This Greek word for church means
"a public gathering of people
for a service to society"
(Matthew 16:18-19).
This Greek word for church means
"a public gathering of people
for a service to society"
(Matthew 16:18-19).
Catholic
The word means
"according to the whole,"
showcasing that who we are
and what we do is in
connection with Jesus' Church
who came before us and
who are around the world today.
We are a multigenerational
multiethnic, multicultural,
and global family.
We believe in humble harmony
with people who have
followed Jesus as Lord and Savior for
the past two millenia and who have
passed down His apprenticeship
to us through scriptural writings,
teachings, traditions, and practices.
Sacrament
The "mystērion" or sacred reality that
present and active in this world
by His Spirit who hovers over
and works in and through
(Genesis 1:2; Job 11:7;
(Genesis 1:2; Job 11:7;
1 Corinthians 4:1).
Mass
Mass
Originates from the Latin phrase
ite – missa est,
which means “go – you are sent out”
(John 20:21-22).
ite – missa est,
which means “go – you are sent out”
(John 20:21-22).
In understanding a bit more
of the meaning of these five words,
I have begun to grasp more of what Jesus
is actually inviting us to trust Him with
I have begun to grasp more of what Jesus
is actually inviting us to trust Him with
when He meets us on our roads
and we come
cautiously, curiously, and courageously,
and we come
cautiously, curiously, and courageously,
to explore faith with Him and others.
According to Jesus in the story of the Bible, faith is trusting in the Gospel or Good News that God created a very good world to be with us in and invited us to bring forth its potential. And even though we rebelled and invited in the selfishness, erosion, and destruction that we see in us and around us, God continued to pursue us and made the way through Jesus – via His whole-making life, death-defeating death, and victorious resurrection and ascension – to heal and save us. He came to restore everything that is broken in us and around us and to make all things new for those who put their trust in and give their devotion to Him.
So the goal of an ekklesia
or congregation
that believes in Jesus
is to share the story
or congregation
that believes in Jesus
is to share the story
of Him and His people
that is catholic
as we reveal the meaning of life
found in the Story of God.
found in the Story of God.
We do this so that we
and people we love encounter
God's presence and action
in Jesus by the Spirit through
His people who obey His Word in
the Scriptures and
partake of His sacraments
during the liturgy of each mass.
during the liturgy of each mass.
As our lives are centered
on Jesus and His Way,
we remember, learn, rehearse,
believe, and participate with God
in His good work of blessing others
we remember, learn, rehearse,
believe, and participate with God
in His good work of blessing others
on the go as we are sent
into the everyday places of life,
redeemed and redeeming,
redeemed and redeeming,
being transformed along the way.
It's true. A service of worship with Jesus’ Church is a bit of a curious thing. But it's also full of a story worth sharing and living into.
An Invitation for You to Be Curious
After reading the words above, if you have grown in your curiosity to connect with someone who can share more about Jesus with you, we'd love to meet you. Or if you're not quite ready for that yet, feel free to email us at info@emmauscitychurch.com and we'll respond.
Depending on your history or background, you may still be wondering why you're even considering Jesus. It's OK. Whatever your story, God knows it and He has been
walking with you even if you don’t believe in Him.
Why? Because that’s so many of our stories.
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus met two
people who thought He was dead after being crucified, and they were walking away from any connection to Him. But
He pursued them and met them where they were even when they didn't recognize Him. He walked with them, talked with them, and stayed with
them. And when they invited Him to come in and eat a meal with them in the town
of Emmaus, He broke bread with them – and then they realized it was Him. After this stunning moment (which included Him disappearing from their sight at that time), they returned to Jerusalem immediately (in the middle of a doubtful and dangerous night no less), racing to tell their friends that somehow death had been defeated and nothing would be the same. They experienced a history-altering and personally-transforming moment with Jesus, and then they walked with a faith, hope, and love that changed their lives and others. And when they shared this good news, Jesus revealed Himself with them and ministered to all who were present (see Luke 24:13-49).
We are praying for you
that you will also come to experience
this type of encounter
with Jesus so you will
that you will also come to experience
this type of encounter
with Jesus so you will
and understand the great grace
that God provides for all
who meet Jesus on their journey of life.
that God provides for all
who meet Jesus on their journey of life.
Bonus Reflection:
Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan
