In touch	Check-in	Intercessions
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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Bread on the table

Something as simple as breaking bread undermines a whole Empire (Luke 24:25 and Acts 2:42).

Context

Imprisoning journalists and opposition spokespeople is a time-honoured way for the Russian regime to fragment loyalties and insist its citizens define themselves in relation to the state. Vladimir Kara Murza’s and Evan Gershkovich’s families and fellow activists, picturing the prison famous for KGB interrogation, might well be stopped in their tracks with sadness and worry, weighing up whether to carry on expressing their opinions. The state wants control of the narrative.

We might give thanks that we live in a political culture where our leaders do face scrutiny with the SNP and Prime Minister Sunak being investigated over financial affairs. This takes the edge off any fear we might have of the powers that be. But, for all our freedom, the deeply embarrassing pay disputes among idealistic professions arise essentially because we the electorate have accepted the false narrative offered by both of the largest political parties that we can have splendid services without paying for them. The CBI is the latest institution to be shown up for allowing sexual harassment to be normalised.

The Fox News – Dominion libel case, settled with eye watering sums, is all about control of narrative. 

All the above are first world problems. We have much more reason to hang our heads and feel despair as rival generals try to out bomb each other and claim control in Sudan.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

He left the broken bread on the table and His slipping away was the evidence they had really seen what they had seen. It was not the only evidence. Their hearts had been burning within them as Jesus expounded the long Biblical story of God showing humanity that s/he is with us reached its climax in his resurrection.

Luke (let's not have the authorship discussion just now) first encountered the Christian way in the church he describes in Acts. This community that broke bread and lived with an uncanny lack of fear of Rome drew him in. Then he used his literary talent to synthesise the memories and stories of Jesus that tumbled around. He gave us Luke and Acts. The Gospel is shaped in order to make sense of the community he discovered and became a part of. It builds up to a Eucharistic climax. In turn, the community he was drawn into only makes sense if Jesus rose from the dead. It is helpful to add one more verse to the Acts reading, summarising the church Luke joined and then wrote for. Their three habits are study of the apostles’ teaching, breaking bread and praying for the world.

There were plenty of reasons for people to stand still looking sad; plenty of reasons for networks to fragment. Peter's urgent public sermon is not long after the intense, frightening weekend of Passover. From locked room to public square something energising has happened. Nothing about Rome or the religious authorities has changed. He calls people to see the falsehood that has become commonly accepted: the falsehood of fear that could lead to the execution of Jesus of Nazareth. The Temple authorities have caught the Roman fear of loss of power and control of religious narrative, to the point that executing a popular rural rabbi looked like a good idea.

It is this fear that Peter believes all can be ‘saved’ from. He demonstrates this by his brave/foolhardy public speech. In the letter written in his name, the believers have experienced regime change. They are now ‘exiles’ in the Roman world, and live as citizens under God's reign.

Thinking of the Pauline subversive letters from prison, still dissolving fear to this day, we can hope those imprisoned in Russia will find ways of writing and connecting still with those outside.

Recognising Jesus energises the two disciples, and they hurry back to re-join the fellowship. Delightfully, their hope is corroborated by the others who share their hope before they can get their words out. In the equally threatening world today, the three simple disciplines will keep us hopeful and generous: The apostle’s teaching about how the world ticks is more authoritative than any earthly regime; the subversive breaking of bread to remember Jesus keeps reasserting our inter-dependence when so much would propel us apart; we are called to pray generously for all who would harm, all who would lead, all who seek to control the narrative and all who hang their heads in despair.

Cleopas and his friend shifted from scarcity to abundance of hope, all because of that broken bread. It's still on the table today. 

 

Questions for discussion

• Are there any common assumptions today that might be considered falsehood?
• Are there any ugly or destructive behaviours or assumptions that have been normalised in our contemporary culture?
• What are the things that propel us apart and discourage close community?
• Cleopas mentions the women's testimony that was dismissed as ‘idle tales’ in Luke 24:11 but doubt is creeping in. Whose voices today, dismissed as foolish, might turn out to be the ones we should have listened to all along?

In all you have discussed, conclude by identifying where the hope is.

The Revd David Warbrick is Vicar of All Saints Kings Heath in the Anglican Diocese of Birmingham, where he takes preaching, breaking bread and prayer seriously, but likes his comforts, and fears he would not have the courage to go to prison for the gospel.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

The beginning of the summer term heralds the start of exam season. Depending on your approach to revision those tests might feel very close or still a good bit down the road.

How do you get ready for an exam?

Are you an organised note taker who cross-references their cross-references? Do you prefer a more abstract style with random notes stuffed into random files? Perhaps you’re just a crammer waiting till just before the exam and then seeing how much information you can stuff in your head?

There’s no single technique that promises exam success, but usually it’s clear when you’re talking to someone who knows their stuff, and someone who is just winging it.

In the Bible passage this week, Cleophas and his travel companion are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They don’t realise it at the time but they’re walking with someone who knows their stuff. They’re accompanied by the ultimate teacher, Jesus. These two disciples are confused about the past few days and Jesus’ death and his apparent resurrection.

The “stranger” they’ve met on the road helps them understand how the scriptures and the prophets had predicated these events. By the end of the day, Cleophas and his friend have a clear understanding about what’s going on. They both realise that they’ve been talking to Jesus, but also now have deeper insight about the events of Easter. 

This story is a reminder that, as we journey down the road of faith, it’s important to walk with those who have been further down that path and whose wisdom and experience can help us have a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. It’s comforting to know that during this journey, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re accompanied by Jesus, always ready to help us step deeper into our relationship with God.

 

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