Friday, April 4, 2008
Luke 24:29 "Abide with us!"
WORDS NOT FOUND IN THE EASTER DICTIONARY: ALONE
For eleven years of my life I lived within the happy confines of Immanuel Lutheran High School and College. I was never alone. There was always a friend nearby to make me laugh, to cheer me up, and to share my faith.
But then came the day when the life I loved so well came to an abrupt end. With all my worldly possessions stuffed into a U-Haul trailer, I made the long drive in my banged up '76 Cordoba to Washington, DC to begin my work as a CLC pastor. How would I survive so far away from family and friends? I had never felt so lonely in all my life.
The disciples on the road to Emmaus felt an awful loneliness. How could they carry on without their dear friend Jesus? Who else could ever understand them, care for them, or help them as much as He did? But, as they would soon find out, how foolish and unnecessary were those feelings of isolation. For soon Jesus would come to them. He would stay with them. He would bring them His Word, which promises that nothing could ever separate them from His love.
Easter tells us that we are never alone. We have a living Savior who has promised to be with us always. In faith we call to Him, "Stay with us." In love He has promised that He will "never leave us or forsake us."
It was Jesus who experienced true loneliness on the cross. Left alone with our sins, His Father deserted Him so that we could be united to God forever through the forgiveness of sins. In Word and Sacrament our risen Lord comes to our lonely, guilty hearts with His grace, mercy, and peace. Every day He walks with us, listens to our problems, guides and directs even the smallest details of our lives.
At times we may feel very lonely. But take heart! The word "alone" is not in the Easter dictionary either. Jesus is with us! And though time, space, and death may separate us from many Christian loved ones and friends, Jesus will take care of that loneliness too. One day we'll all be together with Him in endless joy forever! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
