Whittlesford Parish Church and Whittlesford United Reformed Church
The Revd. Dr. John Bradbury
The Road to Emmaus is one of my favourite biblical stories. There are so many reasons I love the story. Perhaps one is that we have two friends, deep in conversation. Conversation is such a basic thing, and yet so utterly vital to life. Nothing quite beats being deep in conversation with someone at your side as you walk. Many of us, isolated as we are at this moment, are missing that.
In conversation we come to know one another, at greater depth. We come to understand the world better, as we chew on the meaning of life, the universe and everything. And it seems to me to be no surprise at all that one of the key resurrection appearances is precisely Jesus falling in step beside two disciples deep in conversation. For conversation can be a holy thing – a thing in which we do indeed come to know Christ better, as we come to know one another better.
It seems to me that this marks something special and particular about our two congregations in Whittlesford. As congregations, over many years, you have walked and talked together, and in that walking and talking together, you have come to know Christ better, as you’ve come to know one another better. It has been a real joy and privilege to be part of that walking and talking with you for a while.
For those disciples on the way to Emmaus, as Jesus fell in step behind them was not simply walking and talking for the sake of it. It became walking and talking about scripture. Reading, engaging, discussing and debating scripture is one of those utterly fundamental aspects of Christian life. It is as we do that, that we encounter something of the risen Christ and know him to be with us. But it is more than that – for these disciples clearly knew their scriptures. Presumably, they’d known their scriptures their entire lives. And yet – in this moment they see in scripture something new, things that had not struck them before. I’m sure some of you have had the experience of reading a familiar story from the bible and suddenly noticing something in it that you’d not seen before. That is one of those vital ways that our faith is renewed and refreshed. When we see that new thing in scripture, it is very often a sign that the Holy Spirit is indeed making Christ present to us as we read and engage. And it is as God opens our eyes and hearts and we understand something new that the Church renews itself and fits itself for worship, evangelism and service for each and every age. It is a fundamental process that powers our life as disciples ever into the future. I pray that in Whittlesford, as you keep walking the road together as churches, you will keep reading, talking about, engaging with scripture – for in doing that, you will always find Christ at your side, and hear the call of God, enabling you to discern where your life as churches here in this village is called to develop, change and grow.
And yet – even in all this talking about scripture and new things being revealed to them, they did not recognise that it was Jesus walking with them. That only happened at the table, when Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it. Falling into conversation with one another is fundamental to the Christian life, reading the scriptures together and seeing in them that we’ve not noticed before is foundational – but something very particular happens when we gather at the table, bless and break bread, remember Christ’s work for us, and pray that the Holy Spirit will unite us with Christ. For in that moment, as we gather as God’s people around the table we experience Christ’s presence in our midst, and more than that – recognise his presence in a way we don’t quite anywhere else. And one of the most special aspects of our life here in Whittlesford is that after centuries of division, here we can and do gather around the one table, and share one bread and one cup. I’m sure we are all longing for the moment we can literally do that again. Perhaps not being able to gather in that way for a period will help us realise just how special it is to do so when we next can. And so I pray that you will never stop gathering around the table together, and taking bread and blessing it and breaking it – for then, as with those two disciples so you too as two Churches will know Christ’s presence in your midst. You too will be filled with the desire to run off, and tell the good news about the risen Christ. You too will be fed and nourished for the journey of discipleship.
So as I bid farewell to you all – and I do hope that perhaps we might find a moment sometime in the future we can do so in person – but for the moment, we must do it virtually – I pray that the story of the Road to Emmaus may continue to shape your lives as churches together. It has been a huge joy and privilege to join you on that journey for a while. You will remain in my prayers, and I hope I will remain in yours as you continue your journey of discipleship here in Whittlesford, and mine takes me to London to continue my journey of discipleship there in response to a new call and a new ministry. Thank you for everything we have shared together in the last few years, for our friendship, for our fellowship, for your hospitality, and for being wonderful companions on the road as together we have journeyed with Christ.
Amen.
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