The Third Sunday of Easter

Zephaniah 3:14-20, Psalm 116, Acts 2:14a, 36-41 and Luke 24:13-35

The story of the walk to Emmaus is one of the most captivating of the post-Easter stories. It is evening of Easter Day. Two of the wider group of disciples are going to a village about seven miles away from Jerusalem. They are talking through their experiences of the last few weeks. As we might expect, they are disconsolate. Hope is an unbelievably beautiful thing, and as one of them says to the stranger who joins then, ‘we had hoped’. Hope when it is fractured is unbearable.

Our author gives us the name of one of the disciples, Cleopas. The other is left unnamed; perhaps inviting us to be part of the story talking with the, as yet, concealed Jesus on the road.

The disciples would have been talking about the trauma of the events that had happened in holy city. Jesus had been killed. They were trying to make sense of the events that had taken place, seeking to understand and wrestle with them at every level.

All the excitement of the entry into Jerusalem had been snuffed out. One can imagine that their walk would have been heavy both physically and spiritually. Jesus comes alongside them. He first listens to their conversation. That is important, particularly to those who of us who do not naturally listen as much as we should. He then asks about their conversation.

Cleopas tells him all that had happened. He ends by recounting the fact that the tomb was empty. The women had gone to the tomb and returned saying that they had seen angels. The fact that the tomb was empty had been corroborated by others, thus adding to their confusion and disconsolation.

Jesus then interprets the Scriptures to them. The stranger reminds them of the overarching story of the Bible and shows how that story and his own story (the story of Jesus) are wedded together. Jesus interprets the Scriptures to them. He demonstrates that the only way to make sense of what had happened was through the story already contained in the Scriptures. At the heart of our faith is the invitation to join in the story of God.

Jesus still is not recognised. They still do not see him. Luke, our writer, does not say why this is the case. Some have speculated that God prevents them from recognising who is walking with them. Whilst, others have said that the disciples were so traumatised by the events that they were discussing that they would have been unable to see.

The two walkers arrive at their destination and offer hospitality to the stranger. Jesus is their guest, rather than the host. This is not an unimportant point. Sometimes, as Christians we need to partner with those around us, rather than assume that we should lead. Yet, Jesus breaks bread at the table and at that moment they recognise who Jesus is. They then run back to Jerusalem to tell the others that Jesus is alive, confirming the message given by the angels earlier in the day. Of course, by the time they arrive, Jesus has appeared to the apostles, and together they share in earth shattering truth that death has been defeated.

I have said before that in these days of lockdown, I have been rediscovering how to pray. With ten different congregations yet one church family, I try to pray for two congregations specifically each day, as well as the many requests given to me by members of our communities. what are you praying for.

I am hesitant to say much about this current crisis yet. Sometimes it is indeed difficult to understand where God is in it. The two friends walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus are devastated. They are reflecting on their experiences and their reflections lead them nowhere. Sometimes our thoughts on a given situation are unhelpful. Like the two disciples on the road, we are too overwhelmed by them to recognise the stranger who had drawn alongside us.

Experience is a wonderful thing but does not always in and of itself provide answers. Sometimes it does, just not always. Often we need things to be revealed to us. This does not come with an extra little bit of effort. Therefore, Jesus firstly comes alongside them and interprets what has happened. Such thought is necessary, which is one reason I have circulated the booklet on the Psalms as a means of encouraging us to dig deep into the Scriptures. Secondly, he takes the bread and allows himself to be revealed. Neither the digging deep into Scripture nor their own experience gave them the full picture. It is about being willing to give room for God to reveal the bigger picture, including where we might find the divine within it. This giving room might just be creating space to be still and to listen. As I have walked my hounds earlier in the morning, I have heard more and more bird song. I do not imagine it has just appeared. But, as the traffic has ceased and fewer people are around, I have opportunity to hear.

Maybe in this time of isolation, we all have time to refocus on what is important; including within prayer and engaging with the Scriptural story.

The prophet Zephaniah leaves us with a brilliant image of God singing or dancing over us. Zephaniah is clear. God loves us. God holds us. God protects us. May God the Holy Spirit show each one of us how true this is as we journey together yet apart. To appreciate this needs us to understand how our story fits into the overall story of God. Unless, we endeavour to do so, even Zephaniah’s image might seem like a fool’s tale.

Open our eyes, Lord – we want to see Jesus.

Questions

1. How important is Scripture to you?

• What parts of Scripture are you reading during this current situation?

Activity

1. Read the opening chapter of Mark’s Gospel – and write down a few notes of what it says to you about Jesus. You can send them to me if you like.

Trydydd Sul y Pasg

Seffaneia 3: 14-20, Salm 116, Actau 2: 14a, 36-41 a Luc 24: 13-35

Mae stori’r daith gerdded i Emmaus yn un o’r straeon mwyaf swynol ar ôl y Pasg. Mae’n nos Sul y Pasg. Mae dau o’r grŵp ehangach o ddisgyblion yn mynd i bentref tua saith milltir i ffwrdd o Jerwsalem. Maent yn siarad am eu profiadau yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Fel y gallem ddisgwyl, maent yn drist iawn. Mae gobaith yn beth anhygoel o hardd, ac fel y dywed un ohonynt wrth y dieithryn sy’n ymuno bryd hynny, ‘roeddem wedi gobeithio’. Mae gobaith pan fydd wedi torri yn annioddefol.

Mae ein hawdur yn rhoi enw un o’r disgyblion i ni, Cleopas. Mae’r llall yn cael ei adael yn ddienw; efallai yn ein gwahodd i fod yn rhan o’r stori gan siarad â’r Iesu.

Byddai’r disgyblion wedi bod yn siarad am drawma’r digwyddiadau a oedd wedi digwydd yn y ddinas sanctaidd. Roedd Iesu wedi cael ei ladd. Roeddent yn ceisio gwneud synnwyr o’r digwyddiadau a oedd wedi digwydd, gan geisio eu deall ac ymgodymu â nhw ar bob lefel.

Roedd holl gyffro’r mynediad i Jerwsalem wedi’i falu. Gallwch ddychmygu y byddai eu taith gerdded wedi bod yn drwm yn gorfforol ac yn ysbrydol. Daw Iesu ochr yn ochr â nhw. Mae’n gwrando gyntaf ar eu sgwrs. Mae hynny’n bwysig, yn enwedig i’r rhai ohonom nad ydyn ni’n naturiol yn gwrando cymaint ag y dylen ni. Yna mae’n gofyn am eu sgwrs.

Mae Cleopas yn dweud wrtho bopeth a ddigwyddodd. Daw i ben trwy adrodd y ffaith bod y beddrod yn wag. Roedd y menywod wedi mynd i’r bedd a dychwelyd gan ddweud eu bod wedi gweld angylion. Roedd y ffaith bod y beddrod yn wag, yn ychwanegu at eu dryswch a’u dadrithiad.

Yna mae Iesu’n dehongli’r Ysgrythurau iddyn nhw. Mae’r dieithryn yn eu hatgoffa o stori gyffredinol y Beibl ac yn dangos sut mae’r stori honno a’i stori ei hun (stori Iesu) yn briod gyda’i gilydd. Mae Iesu’n dehongli’r Ysgrythurau iddyn nhw. Mae’n dangos mai’r unig ffordd i wneud synnwyr o’r hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd trwy’r stori sydd eisoes wedi’i chynnwys yn yr Ysgrythurau. Wrth wraidd ein ffydd mae’r gwahoddiad i ymuno yn stori Duw.

Nid yw Iesu yn cael ei gydnabod o hyd. Dydyn nhw dal ddim yn ei weld. Nid yw Luc, ein hysgrifennwr, yn dweud pam mae hyn yn wir. Mae rhai wedi dyfalu bod Duw yn eu hatal rhag cydnabod pwy sy’n cerdded gyda nhw. Tra dywedodd eraill fod y disgyblion wedi eu trawmateiddio cymaint gan y digwyddiadau nes iddynt drafod y byddent wedi methu â gweld.

Mae’r ddau gerddwr yn cyrraedd pen eu taith ac yn cynnig lletygarwch i’r dieithryn. Iesu yw eu gwestai, yn hytrach na’r gwesteiwr. Nid yw hwn yn bwynt dibwys. Weithiau, fel Cristnogion mae angen i ni fod yn bartner gyda’r rhai o’n cwmpas, yn hytrach na chymryd yn ganiataol y dylem arwain. Ac eto, mae Iesu’n torri bara wrth y bwrdd ac ar y foment honno maen nhw’n cydnabod pwy yw Iesu. Yna maen nhw’n rhedeg yn ôl i Jerwsalem i ddweud wrth y lleill fod Iesu’n fyw, gan gadarnhau’r neges a roddwyd gan yr angylion yn gynharach yn y dydd. Wrth gwrs, erbyn iddyn nhw gyrraedd, mae Iesu wedi ymddangos i’r apostolion, a gyda’i gilydd maen nhw’n rhannu mewn gwirionedd sy’n chwalu’r ddaear bod marwolaeth wedi’i threchu.

Dw i’n wedi dweud cyn hynny yn y dyddiau hyn o gloi, rwyf wedi bod yn ailddarganfod sut i weddïo. Gyda deg cynulleidfa wahanol eto yn un teulu eglwysig, rwy’n ceisio gweddïo dros ddwy gynulleidfa yn benodol bob dydd, yn ogystal â’r ceisiadau niferus a roddir i mi gan aelodau o’n cymunedau. am beth ydych chi’n gweddïo?

Rwy’n betrusgar dweud llawer am yr argyfwng presennol hwn eto. Weithiau mae’n wir anodd deall lle mae Duw ynddo. Mae’r ddau ffrind sy’n cerdded o Jerwsalem i Emmaus yn ddigalon. Maent yn myfyrio ar eu profiadau ac mae eu myfyrdodau yn eu harwain i unman. Weithiau mae ein meddyliau ar sefyllfa benodol yn ddi-fudd. Fel y ddau ddisgybl ar y ffordd, rydyn ni’n cael ein gorlethu gormod iddyn nhw i gydnabod y dieithryn a oedd wedi tynnu ochr yn ochr â ni.

Mae profiad yn beth rhyfeddol ond nid yw bob amser ynddo’i hun yn darparu atebion. Weithiau mae’n gwneud, dim ond nid bob amser. Yn aml mae angen i bethau gael eu datgelu inni. Nid yw hyn yn dod ag ychydig bach o ymdrech. Felly, mae Iesu yn gyntaf yn dod ochr yn ochr â nhw ac yn dehongli’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd. Mae angen meddwl o’r fath, a dyna un rheswm i mi gylchredeg y llyfryn ar y Salmau fel modd i’n hannog i gloddio’n ddwfn i’r Ysgrythurau. Yn ail, mae’n cymryd y bara ac yn caniatáu iddo gael ei ddatgelu. Ni roddodd y cloddio’n ddwfn i’r Ysgrythur na’u profiad eu hunain y darlun llawn iddynt. Mae’n ymwneud â bod yn barod i roi lle i Dduw ddatgelu’r darlun ehangach, gan gynnwys lle y gallem ddod o hyd i’r dwyfol ynddo. Efallai bod yr ystafell roi hon yn creu lle i fod yn llonydd ac i wrando. Gan fy mod wedi cerdded fy helgwn yn gynharach yn y bore, rwyf wedi clywed mwy a mwy o gân adar. Nid wyf yn dychmygu ei fod newydd ymddangos. Ond, gan fod y traffig wedi dod i ben a llai o bobl o gwmpas, mae gen i gyfle i glywed.

Efallai yn yr amser hwn o unigedd, mae gan bob un ohonom amser i ailffocysu ar yr hyn sy’n bwysig; gan gynnwys o fewn gweddi ac ymgysylltu â’r stori Ysgrythurol.

Mae’r proffwyd Seffaneia yn ein gadael â delwedd wych o Dduw yn canu neu’n dawnsio droson ni. Mae Seffaneia yn glir. Mae Duw yn ein caru ni. Mae Duw yn ein dal ni. Mae Duw yn ein hamddiffyn. Boed i Dduw yr Ysbryd Glân ddangos i bob un ohonom pa mor wir yw hyn wrth i ni deithio gyda’n gilydd eto ar wahân. Er mwyn gwerthfawrogi hyn mae angen i ni ddeall sut mae ein stori yn cyd-fynd â stori gyffredinol Duw. Oni bai ein bod yn ymdrechu i wneud hynny, gallai delwedd Zephaniah hyd yn oed ymddangos fel stori ffwl.

Agorwch ein llygaid, Arglwydd – rydyn ni eisiau gweld Iesu.

Cwestiynau

1. Pa mor bwysig yw’r Ysgrythur i chi?

2. Pa rannau o’r Ysgrythur ydych chi’n eu darllen yn ystod y sefyllfa bresennol hon?

Gweithgaredd

1. Darllenwch bennod agoriadol Efengyl Marc – ac ysgrifennwch ychydig o nodiadau o’r hyn y mae’n ei ddweud wrthych chi am Iesu. Gallwch eu hanfon ataf os dymunwch.