Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:1-18; Hebrew 9:1-28 

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:30-31)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! The resurrection is hard to believe and hold onto. We don't see people rising from the dead in our cemeteries on a regular basis. It would be great if we could point everyone to the resurrected Christ in our midst every Sunday. Obviously we cannot do this, but nonetheless, Jesus has not left us to fend for ourselves. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:19). 

The message of the resurrected Christ is foolishness to the world and even at times to our ears as well, but we are not those who have no hope. This is why Jesus gave us His Word and even by that Word He instituted the Sacrament of the Altar for us and for our salvation. The first disciples doubted Jesus' resurrection even on that first Easter Sunday. They were sure that all was lost. Jesus opened up their minds to the Scriptures and finally revealed His victory over death in the breaking of the bread. 

Each Sunday Jesus opens your minds in the hearing of His glorious Gospel and in the breaking of the bread. As your pastor raises the bread and the cup in the Eucharist, he proclaims, "The peace of the Lord be with you always." This isn't an earthly peace or some temporary sense of being calm. This is the peace that Christ won for you by His death and resurrection. As you come to the altar you partake of the crucified and resurrected Jesus who reveals Himself for you. By this wondrous meal you are forgiven and strengthened in this Christian faith. Jesus says to you today, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Come to the Easter feast, come and see and receive Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Paschal victim, paschal bread; With sincerity and love Eat we manna from above. Alleluia! ("At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing" LSB 633, st.4)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.