Thin Places

Acts 2: 14a, 36-41; Luke 24: 13-35

FPC; 4-6-08

  The phrase that forms this morning’s sermon title, “Thin Places”, originated over 1300 years ago in the Scottish Highlands.  A man named St. Angus came to a place called Balquidder, a beautiful Scottish valley surrounded by forested hills.  Moved by its beauty, he said it was a “thin place”-a place where the separation between heaven and earth was very thin.[1] 

  What are the Thin Places in our lives?

  For me, the beach-the sound of water lapping upon the shore, the sight of sea gulls in flight and the horizon where the sky meets the planet-is a thin place, a place where I am keenly aware of the God of creation. 

  Easter, which liturgically is a celebration that lasts 50 days, is also a Thin Place.  Throughout the Easter season, the newness of Easter is proclaimed and stirs our hearts to hope and faith; the veil between heaven and earth is peeled back and we know we are in the presence of God.   

  But for two people, Cleopas and his traveling companion, the Emmaus Road on that first Easter evening is anything but a Thin Place.  Though we do not know much about the two, we do know they are followers of Jesus.  As they journey, a dark shadow is cast over them.  They have a deep penetrating fear that the same ones who had killed Jesus will pursue and kill them.  Also, they are saddened by Jesus’ death, as any of us is saddened by the death of a loved one.  And, they are despairing as they walk: “but we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel…”  Those two travelers have been robbed of all the grand ideas of what Jesus would do for them and for God’s people everywhere. 

  The Emmaus Road is anything but a thin place until Cleopas and his friend are joined by a third traveler. The resurrected Jesus enters the picture, though the two initially fail to recognize him.  As they walk in the shadow of this stranger’s presence, the two men begin to articulate their sorrow and despair. 

  Jesus listens.  Did you notice?  He doesn’t try to explain away their feelings.  He doesn’t paint a Pollyanna picture of their very real and dire circumstances. He walks quietly with them for a while, follows their lead and gives them some space to express authentically their genuine grief and hopelessness.  At some point during that seven mile walk, Jesus senses the time is right to speak.  He speaks about the scriptures; he presents some words that might help them wrap their minds and hearts around the unspeakable tragedy of the Messiah’s death and the wondrous mystery of his resurrection.   

  Reaching the village of Emmaus, it is getting late.  As an expression of concern for the well being of the stranger who has journeyed with them, Cleopas and his friend extend a most warm invitation:  “Stay with us”. 

  With those three words of invitation, they are exemplifying Christian hospitality.  With that invitation, Cleopas and his friend open their home to one they perceive as a stranger.  At the dinner table, the perceived stranger, the one who is guest becomes host and the hosts become guests.

  “Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them.”

The eyes of Cleopas and his friend become open and they recognize Jesus.  Jesus is the one who joined them on their journey; Jesus is the one who listened to them and cared for them in the midst of their despair and anguish; Jesus is the one who became known through their practice of Christian hospitality, in their communion  around the table, in the breaking and sharing of bread. 

  What are the Thin Places in our lives? 

  This table where bread is broken and the bread of life is made known, this table where communion is shared is a Thin Place. 

But, also the tables of our homes and the tables of our fellowship hall can be Thin Places, when bread is offered to a visitor or a cup of cold water is raised to the mouth of a thirsty stranger.  Anytime we practice Christian hospitality and anytime we express care for one another, any time we join someone on a road of anguish and despair and listen with compassion and empathy Christ is made known.  The veil is peeled back and the distance between and earth becomes very thin. 

  When Bill Link was granted the status of Honorably Retired by the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina, his friend and colleague, Roger Horne, offered some words about Bill.

  Roger informed the presbytery of a tragic event that occurred in the early sixties when he and Bill were serving churches in close proximity to one another.  Roger and his wife and Bill and his wife were traveling from Clarkton, the location of Bill’s church, to Wilmington.  They were going out together to have dinner and to celebrate Bill’s birthday.

  At some point in their journey, a car was driven head on into the car in which Bill, Roger and their wives were traveling.  The impact killed Bill’s wife and left the others with injuries.

  Roger Horne informed the presbytery that Bill, in addition to suffering the loss of his wife, now had the responsibility of raising four boys, between the ages of two and seven.

  Bill Link traveled the Emmaus Road and for him it was anything but a Thin Place. The dark shadows of sadness, fear and despair were cast over him. 

  Then, along that road, there appeared another shadow, the shadow of Christ’s presence offered through the Clarkton Church.  Roger shared how that church supported his friend Bill, how that church walked with him along the Emmaus Road, how that congregation cast the shadow of Christ’s love, comfort and hope upon him.  “That church helped raise these boys”, Roger said, pointing to them as they stood alongside their father.    

  For Bill Link, the church of Jesus Christ was a Thin Place, a place where the distance between heaven and earth is thin.  Who are some of the people of the world for whom the church might be a Thin Place? 

  According to the text, Cleopas and his companion got up from the table and they returned to the same road they had just traveled.  The Emmaus Road they once traveled in fear now becomes the path they travel in exultation and joy; they are returning to Jerusalem to share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, to be the body of Christ,  to give Christian hope and comfort to other disciples who are just as stricken with sadness, fear and despair as they had been. 

  They are returning to Jerusalem to be God’s agents of transformation, to transform thick places into thin places; to open closed eyes to the presence of our risen Lord.    

  After we leave this table and this room, let us return to the world as God’s agents of transformation.  In his strength, let us transform thick places into thin places and let us extend care and hospitality to all we see that the world’s eyes might be opened to the presence of our risen Lord.  May it be so for you and me!  Amen.