“He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:25-29
When watching a video footage of the flood waters from a year ago in North Carolina, it recalled children like these at the Cap Haitian school of Kant. Can you tell me how they get their white clothes looking so bright when their mothers do the laundry in water that resembles that brown flood water? How do they possibly hand wash and dry their clothes and they come out so clean? Two things that I really missed while living in Haiti when doing my laundry by hand were the rinse and spin cycles. It seemed that hanging clothes out to dry on an outdoor line and letting God’s sunshine bleach out any possible stain worked miracles every time. The work that His Son Jesus Christ accomplished for us was very similar to doing laundry. He hung on a tree to make our dirtiest of sins appear white as snow. These children from Kant along with you and me can repeat the words of His disciples as we gaze upon the Cross, repent of our sins, and pray “Jesus, stay with us.” I close today with the words from the hymn Lord Jesus Christ, with us Abide that were written by Nikolaus Selnecker in 1611.
“Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, for round us falls the eventide; nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light, for us be ever veiled in night.
In these last days of sore distress grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness that pure we keep, till life is spent, Thy holy Word and Sacrament.
O God, how sin’s dread works abound! Throughout the earth no rest is found, and falsehood’s spirit wide has spread, and error boldly rears its head.
Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold, for we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold. Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace and spread its truth in every place!
Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray; the guile and rage of Satan stay! Oh, may Thy mercy never cease! Give concord, patience, courage, peace.
A trusty weapon is Thy Word, Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword. Oh, let us in its power confide that we may seek no other guide!
Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word we here may live and die, dear Lord; and when our journey endeth here, receive us into glory there.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen