Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

Do you think that it is a little strange that when Jesus appears to his disciples after the Easter Resurrection, they don’t recognize him? This happens more than once.   

It happened to Mary in the garden on Easter morning when she went to perform the funeral rites on his body. He was gone from the tomb, and she was frightened. She bumped into a man whom she thought was the gardener and asked him what he had done with Jesus’ body. When he speaks her name, she immediately recognizes that it is Jesus in a very different form and rejoices that he has returned to the living.  

Jesus approaches two unnamed disciples on their way to Emmaus. They don’t recognize this stranger, but they start up a conversation with him and ask him to join them for dinner. At the table, Jesus blesses and breaks the bread, and the disciples realize who he is.  Their eyes are opened.   

Then, there are the apostles trying to fish on the Sea of Galilee. While they are in the boat, they see a man on the shore who they don’t recognize. This “stranger” tells them to put the net on he other side of the boat which results in 153 fish! (I have always been fascinated by that number 153, but that for another day).  

There is quite a bit of comment about this phenomenon on the world wide web. The Bible doesn’t provide us with a clear explanation. Scholars have suggested it might be the light, the distance, the surprise of His return from the dead. None of these reasons satisfy my confusion.   

One scholastic comment that I found made sense to me: “knowing Jesus in the flesh was not the same as knowing him as a resurrected son of God.” (Biblical Hermeneutics 2019)  

Here’s my personal take on this situation: Jesus’ earthly body was glorified as will happen to ours when we return to the Father. However, I feel that there is a greater lesson available to us in not being able to identify Jesus.  

Perhaps the lesson is-let’s treat everyone we meet as if they are Christ Jesus. How do we really know that it isn’t Christ? What really matters is if we give kindness and love to everyone we meet, regardless of who they are, where they come from or where they are going. How do we really know these people are not sent from God to enrich our lives and help us love God more?  

Remember God loves you unconditionally. He loves the people that come into your life unconditionally and He might just accompany one of those folks someday.   

Terri  

Every time this old geezer thinks he knows it all, God surprises me with something I didn’t realize. I ran across this from the Flemish mystic John Ruusbroec. The nature of love “is both craving and generous, for it constantly wishes both to demand and to offer, to give and to take.”*

John writes favorably about love that both demands and offers. For years I’ve preached and taught about “giving” aspect of love. I’ve always ignored the “demand” part because it sounds selfish. The problem with my misguided approach is that it ignores half of what love is. Love craves, it desires, it wants. That’s not something bad. It’s something natural. It is true of human beings and of God.

We often talk about the lavish generous nature of God who gives us more than we need. But God desires as well as gives. God desires our love, desires our love for one another. Now that I think about it, I hear it in the writings around the Lord’s last supper. Jesus says to his disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Luke 22:15). It’s in his high priestly prayer: “Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). 

What has God lovingly given you? What does God lovingly desire of you? What do you lovingly desire and lovingly give?

Read 1 John 4:16 and remember: God loves YOU (with gifts and desire)  unconditionally.

Wayne

*From “A Mirror of Eternal Blessedness.”

There’s a running gag in my house, involving my middle daughter, Hannah. When someone calls out to
her with “Oh, Hannah?” I jump in by shouting, “That means family!” A Disney-raised family like mine
gets the reference to Lilo and Stitch, where the explanation is, “Family means nobody gets left behind
or forgotten.” (Lilo and Stitch, Disney, 2002). But what does “family” mean? Are we not all brothers
and sisters, even the ones we don’t like? Even the ones who don’t like us?

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological
differences. – United States Council of Catholic Bishops, Solidarity

So, “family” means everyone. We are all God’s children. We are all responsible to make sure that
nobody gets left behind or forgotten. And this means more than just supporting the needy; it means
loving each other despite our perceived differences. Nobody gets un-loved. God loves everyone,
including sinners (read: us), and we, in imitation of God, should love everyone, even those who we think fall short of our perception of “good”. After all, who are we to judge whether the sin we perceive in others is any worse than those we ourselves are guilty of? Who are we to decide which sin is
serious than another?

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive
and you will be forgiven. – Luke 6:37

Does that mean a free-for-all, an absence of moral law, anything goes? Of course not! But what it
means to me is that, paraphrasing Fr. John Cavanaugh in the movie “Rudy”, there is One Judge, and I’m
not Him. It means I can’t say, “Condemn this one, but not that one.” We are charged by Jesus to love
everyone, and by “everyone” He means “every … single … one … without … exception”.
But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who mistreat you. – Luke 6:27-28

That’s taken from the Gospel reading. It was quite a challenge in its time, wasn’t it? The
Romans, who beat, tortured, and killed people, and seemed to enjoy doing it? The Jewish leaders, who
took every opportunity to try to publicly humiliate Jesus and his followers? The tax collectors, who
turned traitor and lived in luxury on the backs of the poor? Love them all, He said! He didn’t tell his
disciples to agree with these people, or to act like them, but He did say to love them.
So, love them. Pray for them. All of them. Oppose what you believe is incorrect behavior, of course,
but do not condemn people. Any of them. That One Judge? It isn’t you, either.

Jeff
(written February 2025)

There is a story about a frustrated basketball coach named Cotton Fitzsimmons. He couldn’t seem to get them motivated. In a pre-game speech, he said, “Guys, when you’re on the court, don’t think about being in last place. Instead, pretend it’s the playoffs and we’re on a winning streak.” Unfortunately, they got creamed by the Boston Celtics. Coach Fitzsimmons was visibly upset. One of the players slapped him on the back and said, “It’s okay, Coach – just pretend we won!”

Life as a Christian means playing for keeps. The so-called “wins” in this world are not the real deal. In keeping with sports analogy, winning means staying the course in what is a marathon, not a sprint. The win we are seeking and striving for is the crown of righteousness. The thinking also works in the areas of music performance, in that the discipline is the key. The commitment to teamwork, whether on a stage or a ball field, pursuing a goal, can be applied to Christian living. We will be against the world at times. Satan remains our deadly foe. So be fully reliant on God, who unconditionally loves us and trains us to be citizens of heaven. With discipline, determination, and focus on the finish line, we will be prize-winners. 

Pastor Art

Sheep are dumb.  Sorry to be so negative about these furry creatures who share their wool, but let’s face the truth. Sheep are dumb. 

Powerful animals make great mascots for sports teams.  I can think of the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears, the Seattle Seahawks.  But sheep or lambs, no way.  Max Lucado pondered this thought as he tried to make up a decent fight song for the cheerleaders. . . not very powerful is it.

“We are the sheep,
We don’t make a peep.
Victory is yours to keep.
Count us if you want to sleep.” *

Why did David have to use “sheep” as the metaphor for “us.”   Couldn’t he have found something stronger, more flattering.  Truth is, David had been a shepherd.  He had spent days in the fields tending his sheep.  He knew they needed him, so he slept with them.  He watched over them day and night.  And all this reminded David of the way God cares for us.  So, in the 23^rd Psalm, David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”  This my friends, very clearly implies, “I am his sheep”

Like it or not, we do not have the roar of the lion, the sight of the eagle, the stealth of the fox or the strength of the elephant.  Sorry, but we are sheep.  We need a shepherd or we go astray.  And thanks be to God; we have that shepherd.  The most loving, ever-present shepherd of all – our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes, David knew what he was talking about when he penned that beautiful 23^rd Psalm. 
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  Thanks be to God that he is our Shepherd.

Judy

*Max Lucado, Traveling Light, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2001,  p. 26

Whew! 28 letters in this word. (It is a real word meaning the opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England.) But, do you know an even bigger word?  It is LOVE!

The Beatles, in 1967, wrote/sang, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE. Listen to the words again. They hold a lot of truth. As believers in Christ, we know of His unconditional love for us. So, if all we need is love, do you feel loved? Are you sharing love? Do you express love?

A dear, best friend….do you love them? Your spouse/children, do you love them, have you told them you love them? Dog, cat, iguana, fish, your pets, do they know they are loved? A scenic route, a mountain view, waves rushing to shore, do you love the picture they create? Love is all around us and with our dear Lord, love lives inside of us too. So many ways to define LOVE. 

What does God’s Holy Word have to say about love? I John 4: 7-9, “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him.”

LOVE, is the biggest word you can hold within your heart, mind and soul AND share with the world.  Our world needs you to share LOVE. Dig deep, God has filled you with HIS precious love.

All you need is love and He has given you all HIS love.

Jill

I was just thinking how blessed I am that I have had wonderful friends my whole life. There is a special kind of blessing that comes through friendships…those people who walk beside you through every season of life. Great friends laugh with you in your joy, stand firm with you in your struggles and remind you of your worth when you forget.

Over time, these relationships become treasures, shaping who you are and pointing you toward what truly matters. To be surrounded by faithful, loving friends throughout life is a gift not everyone experiences and it should never be taken for granted. What a godsend my friends have been. True friends are a gift from above.

Yet, even the best human friendships, as meaningful as they are, cannot compare to the greatest friend we have: Jesus. While friends may come and go, Jesus remains constant. He knows every thought, every fear and every hope within us and still loves us unconditionally.

In Hebrews 13:5 Paul is speaking for Jesus. I will never fail you or forsake you and in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

We can find strength and contentment in God’s promises. He will never leave us and He will remain the same always. Recognizing Jesus as our closest friend, helps our other friendships grow deeper and more meaningful. Through Him, we learn how to love others better. What a blessing it is to have both loyal friends on earth and a perfect friend in Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Patty

One of my favorites after Easter gospel readings tells the story of Jesus meeting two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. I have written about it before, and I am going to write about it again this week. 

You may already know the basic facts. Jesus has been put to death by hanging on a cross. He is buried and the tomb is guarded to prevent the Apostles from stealing away the body. However, the miracle of Resurrection occurs despite all their precautions. Jesus appears to Mary Magadalene in the garden and later to the Apostles in the locked room where they have sought refuge. 

However, before Jesus goes to Jerusalem, he meets up with Cleophas and his unnamed buddy on the road to the village Emmaus. Jesus had a very busy day. While walking with the men, who knew about the resurrection, but were saddened by the events of the past weekend, Jesus reminds them that these events had been foretold and needed to take place to fulfill the prophecies. 

For some reason which is not explained, the men do not recognize Jesus, but they are taken with his knowledge of Scripture and want to keep his company, so they invite him to dinner. There at the table, Jesus breaks the bread, blesses it and gives it to them. He blesses the wine and shares it. Then He vanishes. 

It’s a “light bulb” moment for the disciples. They recognize that this is the Christ returned to them from the dead. They hurry to Jerusalem to tell the others of their experience. 

I want to emphasize the importance of the recognition of the breaking and blessing of the bread. The wonder of the passing of the wine identified as his blood shed for them. These two events continue to be the universal signs of Christ present in our lives. They are the Body and Blood of Christ and connect us to God and to each other. All over creation! Alleluia!  

Take this Bread and remember that God loves you unconditionally. He sent His son to show us the Way, the Truth and Eternal Life. Let’s share this gift with the world. 

Terri 

In preparing the Spiritual Gifts Class, I read an article “The Four Needs”  by Ken Haugk, the creator of the Stephen Ministry that we use at Joy.  He writes: “Why do people join congregations? What do members need from their congregations? What motivates people to get involved and stay involved?” He identified needs for spirituality, community, care, and serving. I was and am impressed because I have never seen an analysis exactly like this.

Spirituality includes things like worship, sacraments, prayer, art, music. Community is the wide range of activities like small groups, meals, fellowship. Care has to do with things like visitation, providing people with material things they need, grief ministry, and Stephen Ministry. Serving includes the opportunities for us to do things that provide for the other needs like leadership, hospitality, music.

When a church focuses on these needs, it’s better able to carry out it’s mission.

Although some people are really good at demanding what they need (sometimes without offering what they have to others), I confess that it is difficult for me to talk about my needs. It’s just who I am. It’s who my whole family is. We think that we should be self-sufficient.

In my experience, many people expect churches to know what they need without saying anything. Nope, telepathy is not one of the spiritual gifts. So I’ll just put it out there. What do you need from the church? Figured it out? Now tell someone. Talk to the pastor, or a council member, or a ministry leader. It could make a difference.

Read Philipians 4:19 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

I recently had a learning experience that has revealed one of my faults. I have a hypothetical list of people that I have labeled freeloaders. These are people in my judgment who: only want to talk and rarely listen, only take and never give. They never see what they are doing wrong but always see what others do wrong; they believe only their problems matter and want others to be in crisis with them, draining the life out of others. They believe they are the center of the universe and everyone else revolves around them. I bet you are the same as I and have names of people popping into your head right now.

Does God really expect us to love freeloaders, the ones who drain our vitality? I think the answer is yes. How do we bring ourselves to love them? Paul gives us a clue on how to overcome this weakness in Romans 7:21-25, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law: but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me prisoner of the law of sin at work with me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

There’s another part to the way God empowers us to forgive, which was brought to mind by a quote I read the other day. It said, “Forgiveness is accepting that YOU are just like other people.” You see other people are also making lists of freeloaders, and we’re likely to be on their lists! We have many freeloading faults of our own, including some that we dislike in others. Forgiving others depends on us asking for forgiveness from others – and from God. Note that this is intrinsic in the Lord’s Prayer.

We need to pray for those we have put on our freeloaders lists. Even more important, we need to pray for God’s help in changing ourselves to get us off the freeloader lists of others. Doing so will help us to realize that we are all uniquely and wonderfully made by our creator, and He loves us all unconditionally.

Joy Shared by our friend Joy in May 2019.