“I felt my heart strangely warmed” (John Wesley, 24 May 1738).
Methodists speak of the “heart strangely warmed” to describe the awakening of faith. When our hearts are “strangely warmed” we are able to “trust in Christ, Christ alone” (Wesley).
Today’s Gospel lesson (Luke 24:13-35) describes the beautiful journey of two deeply disillusioned disciples who come to faith. Recounting their experience they said: “Were not our hearts burning within us” (:32).
Often broken, hurting hearts are especially open to God’s revelation. When I tell confirmation candidates about John Wesley they most enjoy this bit of the story: Wesley, a young English priest, had gone to America. There he fell in love with Sophy Hopkey. When she accepted another man’s marriage proposal Wesley refused to serve her Holy Communion. This led to legal proceedings against him and he fled America. The idea of a priest refusing to serve the Sacrament to a woman who spurned his love captures their imagination!
A few months later, beset with uncertainty about his faith and his future, Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed”.
May the risen Lord meet with us on Sunday, warming hearts that are hurting and fanning into flame hearts that are warm!
God Bless,
Sean