Psalm 100 is appointed for Easter Monday, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing.”  We certainly did that yesterday and the psalm calls upon us to continue the celebration.

Exodus 15, the OT lesson for the day, takes us back to Israel’s response to crossing the Red Sea describing the scene, “At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap…” and then when the Egyptians saw their chance and followed into the gap, “You blew with your wind; the sea covered; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.”  What joy.

But then we come to the Gospel, where we join two downcast and bewildered disciples taking a walk to Emmaus, trying to figure out how things could possibly have gone so wrong in one week.  From the heights of the welcome to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to being driven out of the city to the hill of crucifixion on Friday.  Then there was that rumor of the women who went to Jesus tomb that morning, but they didn’t find the body.  They returned to the group talking about an angel appearing, telling them that Jesus was alive.

For many, perhaps for ourselves, entering into the presence of the Lord yesterday with singing seems a long ago memory.    The key to continuing joy is in the stranger who joined them on their walk.  He was walking and talking with them.  He was present when they ate.  He opened the scriptures to them.  For us, today Jesus is still alive, walking with us, talking to us through scripture, present with us when eat and when we sleep.

Christ is Risen!  He is risen, indeed! That is as valid today as it was yesterday.