Jesus our Hope

Today’s Gospel Text: That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some 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." 25 And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Luke 24:13-25

Reflection: There was enough reason for them to be sad. It was one of the most painful situation for these followers of Jesus, which may have even led them to anger and sadness.

Anger at the way the Chief Priests and rulers delivered Jesus to death, that too, and according to them and the many people who believed, he was the greatest of prophets, mighty in deed and word, before God and men.

Ask any psychologist or psychiatrist and they will tell you that the situation in which the disciples were in created an ideal situation for mental depression and agony.  In such situations one could even lose hope in life and give up completely in life.   

They had lost one of their sure hopes to the wickedness of the Chief priests and the leader’s machinations, who handed him over to the Romans to be put to death.

In such situations the mind becomes sick and the vision of life is dulled and all that one could do if they have good friends, who share the same feelings, is to encourage and motivate one another or unburden themselves of their pains.

The Emmaus story encourages us and reveals to us that there is a place for Jesus in all our trying moments, even the deepest of trials, which even the best of friends can't always handle.

In such moments our hearts dulled with pain and sorrow can prevent our eyes from recognizing him, the source of joy and hope. But nevertheless we must in prayer tell him about our thoughts and feelings and what hurts us and pains us rather than trust in ourselves to solve our problems.

This is exactly what  the disciples did and the living Jesus helps by enabling them to voice out their feelings and pain.  He heals their hearts by helping them take their focus away from the wickedness of the Chief Priests and the elders

 

Instead of blaming them Jesus helps them see the work of God, with supportive scriptural texts and evidences.

What is more he ultimately leads them to the Eucharist which is the ultimate healing in which their eyes are opened to the new vision in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:  Open our eyes Lord and be with us especially in our deepest hour of pain and prod us on so as to never lose hope in your saving grace.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Voice in the Wilderness

Today’s Gospel Text:  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:1-6

Reflection: In our times there are plenty of avenues open to us to entertain ourselves about many things of life. Yet very often people still complain about the boredom of life and grumble about it.

Boredom and loneliness are serious issues and is a profound problem in our times. There are many new inventions and media entertainments to keep us occupied and busy.

We so easily walk into these entrapment's of pleasure and entertainments that we rarely have time to take stock of the reason for our boredom and loneliness, the wilderness of our life.

Many a times we do go through a struggle in the absence of family, relatives and friends who could sort out our urgent issues. Some not being able to cope up end up in depression or are led on to suicides.

The gospel of today spells hope for those who are struggling with the wilderness of life by a great personality who had opted for the wilderness; a forsaken place which the many shun because it kills.

It is hope that the gospel communicates a voice crying in the wilderness in the reign of various personalities in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, in a reign of extravagance. 

It is a word of hope communicated in the vacuum of the wilderness and resounding through the city down to this age:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Vss. 4-6)

 

These words of his are profound, loaded with rich meaning and above all assurances for all who are willing to take it; whether men in authority or kings or governors or the common men or women on the street.

Only a fool can ignore such a voice that cries in the wilderness and not pause, reflect and respond to this call.

Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect and respond to these words and accept your way as my own.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Rejoice in God

Today’s Gospel Text: In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Luke 10:21-24

Reflection: It is so nice to see people rejoicing. The greater joy is in the contagious nature of rejoicing, when you see someone rejoicing it fills you up too with that special joy, except when you have looked at that someone as your enemy or harbor some grudge against those peoples.

We could rejoice at so many things of life, over gains and over things that build and even over those things which could ultimately destroy us and defraud us of our human character and dignity. 

Therefore it is not enough to rejoice over those things in life in which we are sincere about. Our limited knowledge and sincere heart could betray us.

There is one kind of knowledge which assures us, if we are sincere enough, and that is the knowledge of Christ Jesus; our sure hope and the ultimate reason for any rejoicing.  We can rest assured in this rejoicing that we shall gain from it for all eternity.

To aid us in our understanding and to help us in our rejoicing we have the sure help of the Holy Spirit to break through all the darkness of depression and heaviness; the evil that surrounds us.

We see in this passage Jesus too rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and rejoicing also with an assured knowledge and with a sure faith that this knowledge will be revealed to all those who carry the heart of a child when they approach God.

“Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes” (vs. 21)

Ah! The greatest thing about which we can surely rejoice is the knowledge of God, not the one that comes  merely through learning theology or catechism but knowledge that comes as constant revelation to his chosen ones who open their hearts like little babes to receive it.

Prayer:  Humbly I come before thy holy throne O Lord, so that my soul may rejoice in your greatness and magnify your holy Name; for you fill me with knowledge too profound to understand. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us