As you know, it is Anzac Day this Saturday, 25 April. A time of memories, of sorrow and gratitude; a time for prayers.
My brother and I recently gave our father’s WW2 photos to the State Library. This photo is one he took after a small Holy Communion service under the trees on the island of Crete. It was at a very dangerous time.
As we say our prayers on Sunday we might remember the UN Secretary-General’s plea for a cease-fire as regards all current military conflicts. Amidst the ongoing suffering caused by COVID19, surely this is possible.
EMMAUS SUNDAY: APRIL 26
Luke 24:13-35. Often this is called “Emmaus Sunday.”
We can say that, it all happens at once for those on the road to Emmaus!
What do I mean? Let me elaborate, briefly.
Looking back over many stories, as Fr. Michael Casey once reminded us in front of the beautiful Resurrection Window in our Mt Macedon Church, people generally find faith in one of four ways.
As you think about each of these you may discern your own story and then we will recall how all four happened at once for those on the road to Emmaus.
1. HEARING AND READING GOD’S WORD:
- Like for St Anthony of the Desert, when he walked into Church in Alexandria during The 4th century, aware he was searching and there heard Jesus words to another rich young man. (Matthew 19:16-30).
- Like the Russian pilgrim who heard at Evening Prayer,” Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Hearing this, he went on a search to learn how to ‘pray constantly’ which led him to someone who shared about the Jesus Prayer.
- Like the many whose lives have been changed by reading the Letter to the Romans.
2. A TRANSCENDENT MOMENT
A moment, that is, when heaven and earth seem to touch.
- Like for Julian of Norwich. The Revelations of the Divine Love she received were so vivid. She knew they were a gift from which she must live.
- Francis of Assisi felt the same when looking at the cross in San Damiano and Hearing…,” Francis, rebuild my Church”.
- A friend was sitting in a Church in Fitzroy and heard something similar.
These are moments from which one knows one must live. Oftentimes, the experience is of God coming “in an unattended moment”.
- Like Mary at the Annunciation and the angels message.
- A woman once told me: “I was standing by the fridge. An angel appeared. It was quite large”... The response to such times is to want to live a better life. It makes one yearn for grace.
As Paul Tillich once said: "...at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness and it is through a voice were saying: ‘you are accepted... Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!’... If that happens to us, we experience grace.”
3 THE GRADUAL INFLUENCE OF GODLY PEOPLE
Sometimes people are blessed to just grow up with faith or are thus drawn to faith because of the atmosphere and influence of Godly people.
These can be family, friends, local clergy and laity:
- “It was the image of my grandfather kneeling beside his chair, his working man’s hands together in prayer.”
- “My grandmother would read to us Jesus stories. Her tone of voice was so engaging. She loved us so much”.
- One of our clergy came to faith in a country kitchen. He and others would be gathered for Sunday school in a farm house. Just colouring in those black and white pictures of Bible stories, these stories being read ...The smell of cupcakes cooking in the wood stove...
4. AMIDST DIFFICULTY
Somewhat surprisingly, people can come to faith amidst great difficulties. People somehow know God is with them, an abiding and sustaining presence.
Even though what has happened or is happening does not make much sense, or cannot be easily understood.
This is why our intercessory prayers are so important, say for those now amidst COVID19.... May they know God’s grace and peace.
In recent years, I have run quite a lot of Seminars for Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
One thing I have learned is how important it is for people who have had a traumatic exit from their home to a place of refuge that they find someone who will listen to their story.
Someone skilled and patient who will listen carefully so that the fragmented narrative of a life can find some coherence; some integration and some clarity as regards next steps.
One woman said, in recommending the need for this - “I finally found someone who would listen. I spoke for 3 months, and then I stopped. I had it all out. I could see what had happened. There was some light for next steps...”
As the saying goes, “we live our lives forward and understand them backwards.”
Looking back, we might see afresh the divine presence and providence; a redemptive pattern in the people and moments of grace that were also part of a complex time.
None of which is to underestimate the impact and perplexity of innocent suffering...
SO, HAVING THOUGHT ABOUT THESE FOUR WAYS INTO DISCIPLESHIP....
As regards those on the road to Emmaus, as I said at the beginning, it all happened at once! All four of the ways we have been considering.
- The divine Word was conveyed to them by the One who is the Word make flesh. “And the Word was made flesh , and lived among us , and we have seen his Glory...” (John1:14).
- There was transcendent illumination in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24: 30-35)...Profound mystery too...
- But they knew, without question, that their friend Jesus, whom they knew and loved, had come back from the dead to look after them again.
- This had all happened after the trauma of the Passion and Jesus awful suffering.
Those on the road to Emmaus also knew that this was a moment from which they must live.
So, though they had planned to stay put for the night, “that same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem “.
Perhaps in the dark, we don’t know...
Somehow, “they found the eleven and their companions gathered “and told “what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread”.
No wonder we often call this “Emmaus Sunday.”
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS:
- You might like to reflect back on the story of your own discipleship, recalling moments and people of grace;
- You might like to write a little of this, giving thanks and praying. Sometimes it is helpful, just to draw a line on a blank sheet of paper, like in a Japanese painting, and then, chronologically, recall those moments and people of grace.
- This may lead you into a time of intercession, giving thanks and praying for folk who come to mind.
With prayers now, in our shared discipleship as followers of the One, “full of grace and truth “, (John 1: 14).
+ Philip.
The Jesus Prayer
“ To pronounce the name of Jesus in a holy way is an all sufficient and surpassing aim for a human life..We are to call to mind Jesus Christ until the name of the Lord penetrates our heart, descends to its very depths ..The name of Jesus , once it becomes the centre of our life , brings everything together” ( Monk of the Eastern Church on “ The Jesus Prayer”.)
There are many ways of praying which are valuable. The best prayer for each person is the one, which ever it might be, to which we are drawn by the Holy Spirit. Because prayer is relational, there is always growth, change, nuance as our relationship with God deepens.
Download the Jesus Christ Pantocrator meditation
Read on for Bishop Huggins's full reflection.
What I have found about the Jesus Prayer - for me, ’Jesus have mercy’- is that it has helped to simplify and unify my life. The Prayer helps bring things together in relationship to the One “ in whom all things hold together”. (Colossians 1).
- The meaning of the word Jesus is Saviour- “the one who saves”. We pray “Jesus have mercy" and bring peace to our soul- just as after the Resurrection Jesus came and sat in simple manner with the disciples , bringing peace.( Luke 24:41-42).
- Thus we are drawn deeper into the symmetry between the Incarnation and Resurrection. Thus into the “ fullness of the One who fills all in all.”( Ephesians 1:23).
- The practicality of this was referenced as we followed Jesus holy intentionality from Palm Sunday through to Easter .
His thoughts and actions were perfectly integrated.
We become what we think. Our thoughts shape our words and actions. Over time, the pattern shapes our character and destiny. Thus we need to be attentive to what we think about and what influences our thinking.
To be free... To enjoy the glorious freedom of the children of God, we have to exercise our gift of self-awareness. Otherwise we are like a leaf in the wind, blown about by whatever thought takes over our mind, our words and actions.... Self-aware, we can say to our selves: “ I am thinking this... I do not want this thinking to occupy who I am and what I do...”
In this awareness, I replace that thinking with “ Jesus have mercy” . Jesus saves us as we pray in His Name and thus prevent our mind filling with thoughts which take us in a less Godly direction.
In the process, we discover the mysterious and wonderful relationship between Name and Presence: “ Jesus in our midst", as He promised.
Over time, as I have learned, the Prayer descends from the mind to the heart and we can find the prayer is praying in us...Till, “Christ is all in all" (Colossians 3:11). The Jesus Prayer is therefore often also called “The Prayer of the Heart”.
Why am I putting such emphasise on the Jesus Prayer now?
There are several reasons but first, let me say I know many of you will have this knowledge already. I do not mean to suggest I am offering anything new to you. It is really just a summary because of our context now.
In a Zoom meeting with folk overseas we were planning our contribution to the next UNClimate Change Conference, intended for November in Glasgow (UNFCCC COP26), to implement the Paris Agreement. COVID19 has led to it’s deferral, as with many other planned events for 2020. Our meeting included “Learnings" from this unhappy time.
A happier learning is that, for some, there is now unexpected space for reflection; for a re-appreciation of home and loved ones. There is some freedom to discern the influence of marketing on previous life-style choices! Also, and of significance for us, there is some better time to read our sacred texts and to offer our prayers (including for those suffering and for those intensely serving, amidst COVID19).
I am fond of saying: “The Church is between renewals”. In this unexpected space we now experience, there is opportunity for us to pray renewal into being. Prayer is always the key to renewal.
The practice of the Jesus Prayer will help us make the best of this time of cultural retreat.
So, this is the context for my encouragement as regards the Jesus Prayer.
I hope these Notes are helpful at this time.
With prayers in the grace and peace of Jesus,
Bishop Philip Huggins. President, National Council of Churches in Australia
