Easter Octave 2023 - Wednesday - Emmaus and the Risen Lord's Nearness

 A few years ago, Holy Father Pope Francis reflected upon this morning’s Gospel. He speaks of how Emmaus story contains two journeys. The downhill journey of the disciples leaving Jerusalem in sadness, and then the uphill journey of the disciples having encountered Jesus, back toward Jerusalem, now filled with Joy and enthusiasm. 

“In the first journey, the Lord is walking beside them, but they do not recognize him; in the second one they do not see him anymore, but they feel him near them. In the first they are discouraged and hopeless; in the second they run to bring the good news of the encounter with the Risen Jesus to the others.”

He says sometimes we are like the disciples on the first part of the journey: we allow ourselves to be discouraged by life’s disappointments and proceed sadly. It is important, the Holy Father says, “to stop orbiting around one’s self; [focusing on] the disappointments of the past, the unrealised ideals, the many bad things that have happened in our life. Very often we tend to keep going around and around…” (in our minds…and get nowhere because of it). 

And in those moments we need to leave those disappointments and “go forward looking at the greatest and truest reality of life: Jesus lives, Jesus loves me…This is the turning point”, the Holy Father says to go from thoughts about I to the reality of my God.

A little bit of self-reflectiveness can be helpful. But when we recognize that we are ideating about the same problem, the same hurt, the same sour argument, the same insult, or whatever, we need to go to Jesus—to lift our thoughts, hearts and souls to God. 

The two disciples of Emmaus first open their hearts to Jesus by listening to him explain the Scriptures. This should be a habit and way of life for Christians. When you are feeling lost, disappointed, discouraged, or confused OPEN THE BIBLE. Read a Gospel story or from the Wisdom Books: Wisdom, Proverbs, or Psalms. You might think that the Bible has nothing to say to you, read it anyway. And keep reading until you hear God speaking, with you, in your trials, urging you to open your heart more deeply to Him, allowing Him to set your heart on fire.

In the times of discouragement, be aware that the voice telling you, you don’t need the Bible, you need a drink, a pill, a Netflix binge, a shopping spree, a quart of icecream and a nap, that’s not Jesus. That’s the one that wants to turn your soul away from Jesus. That One doesn’t want you to seek the Wisdom of God, but wants you to rely only on yourself, and wants you to medicate your sorrows with worldly vices. 

Easter helps us grow in the conviction that the Lord offers us another way, of nearness to us throughout all of life, a nearness where the Lord is always longing to speak with us and break bread with us, and set our hearts alite with divine fire, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ. 

For our own community, that it may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received. 

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

 

November 24 2021 - Vietnamese Martyrs - Christ is near us in our trials

 An estimated 130,000 Catholics were martyred in Vietnam between the 17th and 19th centuries. And the tortures suffered by the Vietnamese Catholics are among the worst recorded. Their limbs were hacked off joint by joint, their flesh was torn off with red hot tongs, they were drugged, caged, and exposed to many indignities. They were commonly branded on the face with the words “ta dao,” which means “sinister religion”

One of the Vietnamese martyrs, St. Paul Le-Bao-Tihn wrote a letter describing his imprisonment and torturers, “I, Paul, in chains for the name of Christ, wish to relate to you the trials besetting me daily, in order that you may be inflamed with love for God and join with me in his praises, for his mercy is for ever. The prison here is a true image of everlasting hell: to cruel tortures of every kind—shackles, iron chains, manacles—are added hatred, vengeance, calumnies, obscene speech, quarrels, evil acts, swearing, curses, as well as anguish and grief.”

But then St. Paul Le-Bao-Tihn goes on to explain the faith that sustains him, “But the God who once freed the three children from the fiery furnace is with me always; he has delivered me from these tribulations and made them sweet, for his mercy is forever. In the midst of these torments, which usually terrify others, I am, by the grace of God, full of joy and gladness, because I am not alone—Christ is with me.”

This conviction of the closeness of Christ and the promises of Christ sustained him, and no doubt, so many of the martyrs. 

In the Gospel, the Lord explains how his followers will be led before kings and governors because of my name… we’ll be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends…and hated by all.” What will sustain us in all of our trials is that same conviction that filled St. Paul, St. Andrew, and the Vietnamese martyrs, the nearness of Christ and confidence in his promises. 

This is why it is important to practice daily prayer, regular study of the catechism and the scriptures, frequent reception of the sacraments, in order to cultivate that rock-like faith that sustains us in times of trial and temptation. Superficial faith will not sustain us. Rather, we need to draw near to Christ often throughout the day, and in times of peace, so that we may know his nearness in times of trial, in times of temptation. But if we are constantly turning our face away from him, how can we hope to see his sustaining gaze of love when our faith is tried?

St. Paul Le-Bao-Tihn wrotes, “In the midst of this storm I cast my anchor toward the throne of God, the anchor that is the lively home in my heart.” May we cultivate that faith in god, that hope in God, that love for God that will be an anchor in the storms of our life, that we may preserve our souls for eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

For the sanctification of the Church, that bishops and priests be granted courage to preach the Gospel in its fullness.

For the sanctification of families, that the Word of Jesus may be studied, cherished and practiced in every home.

For all who have fallen away from the sacraments, may they repent of their sins and desire the life that can only come from you.

For peace and refreshment to all who prepare to gather for the Thanksgiving Holiday, bring safety to travelers, and protection from all disease.

For comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, and courage to the fearful. 

That the Lord welcome into his kingdom all the faithful departed, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, all clergy and religious, and X for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.