April 15, 2018 – Luke 24:36b-48
Luke 24:36b-48
The Risen Jesus is Hungry
Third Sunday of Easter – April 15, 2018
First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB
I went to see Steven Spielberg’s new film Ready Player One this past week –
and it was a lot of fun.
It is a story set in 2045, when the real world has turned very dark,
and so most people spend their time in a virtual world in a multi-player game called
Oasis.
There, they can be the avatar of their own making, form friendships, and go on adventures.
It was invented by an eccentric lone genius named Halliday.
Before he died, he created an adventure for people in Oasis: if they could find an
Easter Egg hidden in the game, they would inherit his vast fortune and
become the master of his virtual universe.
This being a Steven Spielberg film, our young plucky hero and heroine eventually
save the day from the evil corporation that also has its sights set on the prize.
But near the end, we see and hear Halliday speak to them from the end.
A loner by nature and afraid of human contact, perhaps even afraid of his own body,
Halliday nevertheless came to understand before he died that
“as painful and as terrifying as reality can be . . . it’s also the only place
you can get a decent meal.”
How the risen Jesus could relate!
Hahahahaha!
Today Jesus says exactly the same thing!
In Luke’s telling, it is still the evening of the resurrection.
Jesus has already encountered the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Remember: he talks to them on the road – but they don’t recognize him till
he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them.
But . . . before he has a chance to eat, he vanishes from their sight.
So they run back to Jerusalem to tell them that they have seen Jesus! That he’s alive!
What we read today comes right after.
Jesus comes to the room where they all are.
And he tells them . . . he’s hungry!
He says, “I’m famished! Being crucified and dead and raised again is hard work!
Give me something to eat already!”
Apparently they have no trouble recognizing him now.
They know Jesus like to eat and share food while he was alive – must be Jesus.
One of the things that is going on here is that Jesus is trying to prove he is not a ghost.
He is real – and he has a real body.
In the ancient world, you could test to see if something were a ghost or not by
seeing if it ate food.
But I think there is more going on: I mean, as we know, in all the Gospels people have a
hard time recognizing the risen Jesus.
Last week in John’s Gospel Thomas recognized the risen Jesus by his wounds.
The same thing happens here: Jesus says, “Look! See my wounded hands and feet! It’s me!”
But Luke also wants us to recognize the risen Jesus through his relationship with food:
the risen Jesus is recognized as the one who gives food, like he does to the two
disciples in Emmaus.
But the risen Jesus is also recognized as one who is hungry.
Who is starving.
Who is famished.
The risen Jesus has a real body – and he is hungry.
Luke is telling us: if you want to see the risen Jesus, look no further than those who are hungry,
who are physically hungry with their real physical bodies.
If you want to serve the risen Jesus, give them something to eat.
And Luke is also telling us: the risen Jesus gives those who are hungry something to eat.
If you want to be the risen Jesus, give those who are hungry something to eat.
This is something we only do with our bodies.
It is something we cannot do virtually.
The resurrection of Jesus’ physical, real body is obviously a big deal in the New Testament.
I can’t emphasize that enough.
Jesus’ body was important to God, just as all our bodies are important to God.
When we are raised, we will be raised physically somehow – just like Jesus.
That is how important our bodies are to God.
And they are important now.
The risen Jesus is hungry now, like today, like this week: so it’s a good thing
we are having yet another food bank and community meal this week –
and this is a good opportunity to remind you to sign up for the summer
Wednesday food bank opportunities –
because the risen Jesus is asking for you to give him something to eat.
This is also an opportunity to reflect on just how important are bodies are
in serving one another – even beyond death.
Out of the horribly, unthinkable tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash last week,
something life-giving is happening – and friends, that is the miracle of Easter.
As I was so moved to read this week,
Logan Boulet signed his organ donation card shortly after his 21st birthday,
which was just a few weeks ago.
As a result, after he died in the crash, 6 people were set to receive his gift of life – 6 people
who were hungry for life would be fed –
and his other organs donated for medical studies.
Thanks to his selflessness and love, many people will live –
not only because of his own gift, but because he has inspired 1000s of people across
Canada to become organ donors or donate their bodies for medical studies.
This is especially close to my heart, because every year I plan and lead a service
in thanksgiving for those people who have donated their bodies for medical studies at
the University of Manitoba.
This year we will give thanks for 50 people who have been cremated now that their labours
are finally over.
Medical students need real bodies to study – so that when it comes to treat living bodies –
mine and yours – they are well equipped to do so.
Text book pictures are fine, but every body is different.
Virtual simulations are fine,
but they are not the real thing that you and I are the proud owners of.
Every year I get to reflect on how amazing it is that
even death is not a barrier to love of neighbour – that love is truly and literally
stronger than death, that love is stronger than anything.
That our bodies are amazing and can serve one another even in death, even beyond death.
I love highlighting the labour of these people because most of the time we do not realize
that every single one of benefits from their thoughtfulness and love every single time
we visit a doctor or undergo surgery.
But it takes a body to love.
Bodies get hungry – and it takes a body to feed a hungry body.
How do we recognize the risen Jesus?
It’s an important question in all the Gospels.
We recognize him in the life-giving actions of a 21 year old hockey player whose body will
now literally give life to others.
We recognize him in those who make and share food.
We recognize him those who are hungry –
not only does the risen Jesus in Luke say, “Give me something to eat!” but
Matthew also tells us that that risen Jesus says very clearly,
“When I was hungry you gave me something to eat.”
God is somehow mysteriously and very seriously when food is shared and
when our bodies serve one another with gifts of life.
So sign those organ donation cards.
If you’re interested in exploring the U of M Body Donation Program, talk with me.
If you’re interested in being the risen Christ by participating in our Food Banks or
community meals over the summer, talk with me or sign up on the sign up sheets.
For, as Jesus says, you now are witnesses of these things – at Sargent and Victor . . .
to the ends of the earth.
So together, let us say, “Amen.”
Pastor Michael Kurtz
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