Recognizing Christ in Our Midst

for April 19, 2026

Opening Prayer

Note to leader: before the prayer and the beginning of worship, take a moment to encourage God’s people to settle into God’s Spirit, to breath, to be open to Christ’s presence.

Risen Christ,

you came alongside your disciples
on a road they did not understand,
and you walked with them
before they ever knew it was you.

So come alongside us now.

As we gather this morning,
we bring with us many things—
hurried thoughts,
unanswered questions,
quiet burdens we have not named.

Slow us down.

Settle our restless minds.
Quiet the noise within us and around us.
Help us to breathe deeply of your presence.

Where we are distracted,
draw our attention back to you.
Where we are anxious,
steady us with your peace.
Where we feel distant or uncertain,
come near again.

Open the Scriptures to us,
that we might hear your voice.
Break the bread of life among us,
that we might recognize your presence.

Walk with us, even now,
in ways we may not yet perceive.

And as you did for those on the road,
kindle something within us—
a quiet burning,
a growing awareness,
a deep assurance that you are here.

Make yourself known to us
in word and in silence,
in prayer and in song,
in one another and in this shared moment.

And when our eyes are opened,
give us grace to respond—
with trust,
with joy,
and with lives turned toward you.

We pray this in your holy name,
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

Amen.

Call to Worship

Responsive

On the road, when hope seemed lost,
Christ drew near, though he was not recognized.

In our walking, in our wondering,
Christ is near to us still.

When the Scriptures were opened,
their hearts began to burn within them.

When the bread was broken,
their eyes were opened, and they knew him.

In word and in meal, in stranger and in friend,
Christ is made known among us.

So come, let us walk this road together.
Let us listen for his voice and watch for his presence.

For the risen Christ is among us,
even now.

Come, let us worship the living God.

Hymn of Praise

Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!, GTG #248

Assurance of Grace

Hear the good news:

Even when we do not recognize him,
Christ comes near.

Before we understand,
Christ comes near.

While we are still uncertain,
Christ comes near.

This is God’s faithfulness:
we are met with mercy.

This is God’s grace:
we are made new.

Not by our effort,
but by God’s love.

Not by our certainty,
but by God’s promise.

In Jesus Christ,
we are forgiven.

In Jesus Christ,
we are made new.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Trusting in God’s grace and mercy, let us confess our sins and brokenness together.

Responding to God’s Grace

Unison Prayer of Confession

Gracious and merciful God,

you come near to us,
and still we do not always recognize you.

You walk beside us,
and yet we are distracted,
caught up in our own thoughts,
our own fears,
our own understanding.

We confess that we often move too quickly—
too certain of ourselves,
too slow to listen,
too busy to notice your presence among us.

We cling to what we think we know,
and miss the new thing you are doing.

We hold back from trust,
and resist the grace you freely give.

Forgive us, we pray.

Open our eyes,
that we might see you more clearly.
Open our ears,
that we might hear your voice.
Open our hearts,
that we might receive your life.

(A time of silent prayer)

Risen Christ, come near to us again.
In your mercy, forgive us.
In your grace, renew us.
In your presence, lead us.

Amen.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

An Embodied Sign of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus

Friends, we have been reminded that God’s grace extends to all. We have confessed our sins, knowing that we have been forgiven and that God is making us a new creation.

In this spirit, let us share the peace of Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

(Share Christ’s peace in ways fitting to your community.)

The Written Word

Gospel Reading

Luke 24:13–35

The Road to Emmaus

13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself drew near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17And he said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19He said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he is alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.”
25Then he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to trust all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is toward evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
33That same hour they rose and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and those with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has been raised indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Resurrection

1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling clothing. 5And as they were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but has been raised. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, 7saying that the Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” 8Then they remembered his words,
9and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them like nonsense, and they did not trust them.
12But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus

13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself drew near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17And he said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19He said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he is alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.”
25Then he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to trust all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is toward evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
33That same hour they rose and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and those with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has been raised indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36While they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37But they were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41Yet for all their joy they still did not trust, and they were wondering; so he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence.
44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And look—I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Notes

v16“their eyes were kept” — Recognition is not merely intellectual; perception is given, not achieved.
v21“we had hoped” — The line holds grief and disappointment; resurrection meets people inside collapsed expectations.
v25–27“slow of heart… interpreted” — Jesus does not replace scripture but rereads it; suffering is not an interruption of God’s work but part of its pattern.
v30–31“took… blessed… broke… gave” — Recognition occurs in shared practice; the meal becomes a site of revelation.
v32“hearts burning” — Understanding is experiential as well as cognitive; truth is felt before it is fully grasped.

Notes

v05–06“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” — The resurrection reframes expectation; the question exposes how easily hope is still located in places of death.
v11“like nonsense… they did not trust them” — Testimony of resurrection first appears as implausible; disbelief is not dismissed but named as part of the process.
v16“their eyes were kept” — Recognition is not merely intellectual; perception is given, not achieved.
v21“we had hoped” — The line holds grief and disappointment; resurrection meets people inside collapsed expectations.
v25–27“slow of heart… interpreted” — Jesus does not replace scripture but rereads it; suffering is not an interruption of God’s work but part of its pattern.
v30–31“took… blessed… broke… gave” — Recognition occurs in shared practice; the meal becomes a site of revelation.
v32“hearts burning” — Understanding is experiential as well as cognitive; truth is felt before it is fully grasped.
v36“Peace to you” — The first word is not correction but peace; presence precedes explanation.
v39“touch me and see” — Resurrection is embodied, not abstract; continuity and transformation are held together.
v41“for all their joy they still did not trust” — Joy does not eliminate uncertainty; faith and hesitation coexist.
v45“opened their minds” — Understanding scripture is an act of divine illumination, not merely study.
v47“repentance and forgiveness… to all nations” — The scope widens outward; resurrection leads to proclamation, not containment.
v49“clothed with power” — Mission is not self-generated; it depends on what is given.
v51–53“blessed them… great joy” — The departure of Jesus is not loss alone; it becomes the ground of worship and sustained joy.

Vocabulary

v16κρατέω (krateō) — to hold fast; to restrain
v21λυτρόω (lytroō) — to redeem; to set free
v25καρδία (kardia) — heart; inner life; center of will
v27διερμηνεύω (diermēneuō) — to interpret; to explain
v30εὐλογέω (eulogeō) — to bless
v31ἀνοίγω (anoigō) — to open
v32καιομένη (kaiomenē) — burning; set on fire

Vocabulary

v03σῶμα (sōma) — body
v05ζάω (zaō) — to live
v06ἐγείρω (egeirō) — to raise; to awaken
v11λῆρος (lēros) — nonsense; idle talk
v16κρατέω (krateō) — to hold fast; to restrain
v21λυτρόω (lytroō) — to redeem; to set free
v25καρδία (kardia) — heart; inner life; center of will
v27διερμηνεύω (diermēneuō) — to interpret; to explain
v30εὐλογέω (eulogeō) — to bless
v31ἀνοίγω (anoigō) — to open
v32καιομένη (kaiomenē) — burning; set on fire
v36εἰρήνη (eirēnē) — peace; wholeness
v38διαλογισμός (dialogismos) — doubt; inner questioning
v45νοῦς (nous) — mind; understanding
v47μετάνοια (metanoia) — repentance; change of mind and direction
v47ἄφεσις (aphesis) — forgiveness; release
v48μάρτυς (martys) — witness
v49δύναμις (dynamis) — power; capacity; ability
v51ἀναφέρω (anapherō) — to be taken up; to carry upward

Recognizing Christ in Our Midst

Sharing God’s Word Together

  1. Think of a time when you misjudged someone at first—
    maybe because of how they looked, what you assumed, or what you had heard—
    and later realized you were wrong.
    What changed?
    What helped you see them differently?
  1. In this story, the disciples are talking with Jesus himself—
    and still don’t recognize him.
    What do they assume about him that turns out to be wrong?
    What were they expecting that kept them from seeing what was actually there?
  1. What prevents them from seeing what is actually right in front of them?
    Is it lack of information—or something else?
  1. Do you think it’s possible to be sincere in your faith—
    and still misread what God is doing?
    What in this passage makes you answer that way?
  1. Have you ever had a moment where your understanding of a person—or even of God—had to change because of an encounter you didn’t expect?
    What made that change possible?
  1. If Christ could stand among us in a way we did not expect—
    what might keep us from recognizing him?
    Where do our expectations come from?
  1. If every person is created in the image of God,
    how might that shape the way we see and treat others?
    What might change in the life of a church that took that seriously?
  1. What is one small, concrete way we can approach someone differently this week—
    especially someone we might normally overlook, avoid, or assume something about?
    What would make that feel like a risk for you?

Hymn of Reflection

Open My Eyes, That I May See, GTG #451

Affirmation of Faith

Spoken together.

We believe in Jesus Christ,
the risen Lord,
who comes near to us
even when we do not recognize him.

He walks with us in our confusion,
speaks to us through the Scriptures,
and is made known to us
in the breaking of the bread.

We believe that Christ is present among us—
in this gathering,
in our neighbors,
and in the life we share together.

We trust not in our own understanding,
but in God’s faithful love,
which meets us,
opens our eyes,
and makes us new.

By the power of the Holy Spirit,
our hearts are awakened,
our lives are turned,
and we are sent to bear witness
to the risen Christ.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the church, the world, and one another.

Risen Christ,
you walk with us even in troubled times,
even when the world feels uncertain and divided.

Hear us as we pray.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For this world, shaken by conflict and war—
for all caught in violence, fear, and loss,
for those in places of rising tension and unrest—

Bring restraint where there is escalation,
and peace where there is harm.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For nations and their leaders,
in times of political strain and deep division—

Grant wisdom beyond self-interest,
and courage to seek the common good.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For those burdened by economic uncertainty—
those struggling to provide,
those anxious about what lies ahead—

Give daily bread,
and restore a sense of hope and stability.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For those who suffer in ways unseen—
those living with anxiety, depression, or despair—

Draw near in tenderness.
Surround them with care,
and bring light into the darkness they carry.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For those who are victims of abuse,
neglect, or harm—

Protect them,
bring healing to their wounds,
and raise up those who will stand with them in safety and truth.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For this community,
and for the people we encounter each day—

Teach us to see more clearly,
to recognize your image in every person,
and to respond with compassion and grace.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For the church in every place—

Renew us by your Spirit,
that we may bear witness to your presence
not only in what we say,
but in how we live.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

For the prayers we carry in silence—

(A time of silent prayer)

Risen Christ,
you are present even when we do not see you.
Receive these prayers, spoken and unspoken,
and continue to walk with us
until our eyes are opened
and your peace is made known in all the earth.

Lord, open our eyes,
while your mercy grows.

The Lord’s Prayer

We pray together, saying:

(The Lord’s Prayer is prayed in the words familiar to the community.)

Hymn of Sending

The Lord Now Sends Us Forth, GTG #747

Sending

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Reflections for Later

For Newcomers

You may not be sure what you believe.
You may feel like you are still on the road,
trying to make sense of things.

That is not a problem to solve.
It is a place where Christ meets people.

The first disciples did not recognize him at first.
They walked with him, spoke with him,
even questioned him—
and still did not see clearly.

And yet, he stayed with them.

If you are uncertain, searching, or simply curious,
know this:
Christ is already nearer than you think.

You do not need to have everything figured out.
Just keep walking.
Keep listening.

In time,
your eyes may be opened in ways you did not expect.

For Those Rooted in This Community

You have walked this road for some time.
You know the language, the rhythms, the stories.

And still—
this passage reminds us—
familiarity is not the same as recognition.

The disciples knew the story.
They understood the hope.
They were sincere in their faith.

And still, they missed him.

So we are invited again
not just to remember Christ,
but to look for him—
in the ordinary,
in the unexpected,
in the people we think we already understand.

Faith is not only what we have learned.
It is a continual opening of our eyes.

Stay attentive.
Stay humble.
Stay ready to be surprised.

Christ is still being revealed.

For Churches Without a Pastor

It can feel like something is missing.

Leadership, direction, a steady voice—
these matter, and their absence is felt.

But the story on the road to Emmaus
reminds us of something deeper:

Christ does not wait for perfect conditions
to be present among his people.

He comes near on uncertain roads.
He is revealed in shared conversation,
in the opening of Scripture,
in the breaking of bread.

Christ’s ministry is larger than any one pastor.
It does not depend on a single voice.
It is alive and active among the people—
in acts of care, in words of encouragement,
in faith that is shared and lived together.

The church is sustained
by the living presence of Christ
in the midst of the gathered community.

So keep walking together.
Keep listening to the Word.
Keep making space at the table.

Christ is not absent.
He is already among you—
leading, shaping, and revealing himself
in ways you may only now begin to see.

Need Help?

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Rights and Use

© Church Commons. 2026

Written by Rev. Matthew J. Skolnik unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.


These materials may be used and adapted for worship and educational purposes within Christian communities. They may not be sold or redistributed for commercial purposes without permission.

Resource Details

Date: April 19, 2026

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Theme: Recognizing Christ in Our Midst

Lectionary: RCL Year A

Scripture on this page is from The Shared Word Translation (SWT), an ongoing translation project within ChurchCommons.org.