“Jesus makes himself known…” — Sermon for April 23, 2023

(This sermon was in response to Luke 24:13–35, which is commonly known as the Road to Emmaus reading.)

Verse 1 of the hymn “All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen goes like this:

Let us build a house
Where love can dwell
And all can safely live
A place where
Saints and children tell
How hearts learn to forgive

Built of hopes and dreams and visions
Rock of faith and vault of grace
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions

All are welcome, all are welcome
All are welcome in this place

Most of you are probably familiar with this hymn. It is a hymn of hospitality, openness, inclusivity, and grace. A hymn that offers the message, good news really, that Jesus welcomes all and offers grace. It’s a hopeful hymn — pointing to the future of what can be — What Jesus talks about as the Kingdom of God, where we are all part of the household of God and what that means. It’s a hymn that offers a stark contrast with the world.

Let us build a house where love can dwell, and all can safely live. A 16-year-old boy went to the wrong door in Kansas City. He was looking for his siblings. And he was met at the door by bullets that flew through the glass. He ended up being shot in the head. No words of warning, no…