The soldier answered his nation’s call. He left behind his family, friends and fortunes – personal treasures that so many take for granted. He is the warrior who was called upon to fight our nation’s enemies. He fought in distant lands to keep the battle far from our homes. He fought against tyranny. He fought to keep the darkness and evil away. He fought in exhausting heat and bitter cold. He fought in desserts, mountains and bombed-out streets.

Charlie’s mom became extremely ill and bedridden right after his sixth birthday. It didn’t take very long for her to succumb to her illness. Charlie and his father grieved. But Charlie’s dad suffered an emotional breakdown. He became severely depressed and began drinking heavily. … By Charlie’s eight birthday, his dad had died, too.

Charlie became an orphan.

It is Thursday evening. The disciples are relaxing during the meal. It has been quite a week for them – the adoration showered on Jesus during his Sunday entrance into Jerusalem; the shock of watching Jesus overturn the money changers’ tables in the temple courtyard; the vitriol from the religious leaders as they tried to trap Jesus with their questions.

But those events are behind them. Now it is time to recline and relax at a quiet Passover meal with Jesus.

Joshua owns a ranch with thousands of sheep and lambs. He divides his flocks into groups of one hundred. He personally names each of the lambs right after birth. He never forgets a single name of any of his sheep. He loves each of his sheep equally. He loves Ben who is a gentle sheep who likes to cuddle with Joshua. He loves Molly who is an ornery older sheep who tries to ram Joshua in the rear end any time he turns his back on her. He loves Jack and Jill, two-year-old twins who will find any hole in the fence and run away. Joshua will leave the other ninety-eight to find those two.

A thick fog has settled along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It is difficult for the two disciples to move with any kind of urgency. Every step is slow and plodding as they head home.

The minds of these two disciples are clouded with disappointment and dashed hopes. Their vision is hazy with fear and uncertainty. The road to Emmaus is a grim place to be on this spring Sunday afternoon.

Peter, one of the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, speaks about the significance of Jesus’ resurrection: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Amen.

The disciples had big plans after the Passover holiday was over. James and John were planning to go fishing with their dad, Zebedee, on the Sea of Galilee. Peter was looking forward to his mother-in-law’s delicious lamb and legumes. Matthew was going to walk his children to school so they could sit at the feet of their rabbi. Andrew and Nathanael were going hiking across the Judean countryside. Thomas was planning to help his twin brother plant spring crops.

Then, within a few days, everything changed!

What fears do you, like the two Marys, carry with you this Easter Sunday morning?

Fear of the spread of the pandemic. Fear that the economy is irreparably broken. Fear that your small business isn’t going to make it. Fear of those not wearing masks and gloves. Fear of social isolation. Fear that there are no children’s athletics to attend, no sports to watch, no vacation or prom or graduation to enjoy.

The Jewish remnant had returned to Jerusalem. It has been fourteen years since the people had been released from their Babylonian captivity. They were fourteen long, difficult and discouraging years.

The people are not able to attend worship services at the temple. The temple had been destroyed decades earlier. Their efforts to rebuild it have been at a standstill.

The people are apprehensive of unseen enemies. The Syrians, Phoenicians and the Philistines who all live around the Judean countryside can launch an unseen attack at any time.

Ezekiel was standing in the valley. The valleys was gray and colorless, barren and dry. There was no life in the valley. No grass growing. No flowers blooming. No birds singing or critters skittering.

The decay of death hung heavy over the valley.

Jake stole his father’s estate from his older brother. When his brother found out, he threatened to kill Jake.

To save his skin, Jake ran away from home. He ran all the way to a different country. There he fell in love with a beautiful woman. Jake wanted to marry his true love. But his father-in-law tricked him. Jake ended up marrying his love’s sister, instead!