Thu, Jan 08 2009
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Published April 14, 2008 12:24 pm - Jesus: The ultimate companion By THE REV. STEPHEN MATHISON-BOWIE, Interim Pastor, First Christian Church of Oskaloosa The Oskaloosa Herald OSKALOOSA — Having celebrated Easter, many congregations ponder Scripture that deal with encounters folks had with Jesus in the days after the tomb was found — empty.
On one such occasion, two people walking to their hometown encountered the Risen Christ while on the way. For reasons that are not clear, they didn’t recognize him. So, as you and I might do down at the feed store, at Smokey Row, or in the break room at Musco Lighting, they asked The Stranger what he thought of recent goings-on in town. The Stranger asked them to explain. They told him how sad they and others were that this promising young man had been put to death, instead of leading his people to victory and independence from Rome. This victory they believed to be the agenda of “Messiah,” a figure of mystery and promise spoken about in many ancient Hebrew scriptures. His death, they said, was brought about by people who couldn’t stand the competition and break from tradition that he represented. In return, this hidden Jesus explained to them why all this had come to pass. It was, he said, to fulfill another agenda of the ancient holy books — the healing of people of their brokenness and the opening of a pathway for reconciliation to the Creator through the work of one known as The Suffering Servant. Being moved by his words, the two travelers invited The Stranger in for a meal. When they sat down and He gave thanks for what they were about to receive, they recognized him for who He was. “Their eyes were opened!” And then he was gone. No matter what our agenda, The Divine Agenda trumps — and completes — all. Christ, the ultimate companion (“one who breaks bread with us”), longs for our company at the banquet table of life. This is the heart of what has been known through the ages simply as The Gospel, the “good news”: what looked like defeat, wasn’t! Just as the message of Christ could be conveyed in the ancient stories of Messiah and Suffering Servant, it can be conveyed in our stories — stories of abuse, disappointment, and failed expectations, as well as visions of success beyond our wildest imagining. Finally, we are invited, all of us, to see ourselves as Companions on the way. A companion is: com: together with pan: sharing bread ion: one to whom we are attracted in relationship. Companions of Christ. Companions of one another. Need a faithful companion? Let me introduce you to a Stranger. 
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