27-Apr-2014 Dear Friend,
The present day battles on the election front, the scandals in the Church, the increase in crime all over the world, the ever-present threats of terrorism and war could tend to depress us. All of us have had moments of frustration when we felt like giving up and quitting. What is our reaction to our disillusionments? Can we make sense of whatever is happening in our lives with God's help? The ongoing theme of the Easter season is the peace that the risen Lord brings into our lives. Wishing you an Emmaus, 'vision-change' weekend! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections 3rd Sunday of Easter-"You foolish men so slow to believe!" 04-May-2014 Readings: Acts 2: 14, 22-28; 1 Peter 1: 17-21; Luke 24: 13- 35; In the first reading we hear Peter preaching the first Christian sermon, and it contains in a nutshell what we are called to believe. Peter's preaching is a wonderful testimony to the resurrection of the Lord because of the awesome transformation that was wrought in Peter himself. This impulsive, vacillating frightened shaky man is completely transformed by the Spirit of the risen Lord. Peter is now courageous, fearless, and ready to suffer for the Master. What the Lord did for Peter he continues to do for all believers who are transformed and changed into fearless evangelisers in the measure that they let the Lord take over their lives. My Advice Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee said in an interview in the magazine The Critic: "If younger people are having an identity problem as Catholics, I tell them to do two things: Go to Mass every Sunday and work in a soup kitchen. If one does those two things over a period of time, then something will happen to give one a truly Catholic identity. The altar and the marketplace -these two must be related to each other; when they are, one works better, and prays better." Gerard Fuller in 'Stories for the Soul' The Gospel has one of the most beautiful stories of the post resurrection appearances of the risen Lord, the journey of the disciples to Emmaus. First of all, we can note that the incident tells us that the disciples to whom Jesus appeared were not the leaders but ordinary disciples, in fact we know only one by name, Cleophas. Perhaps the point being made is the fact that Jesus can appear to any one whom he chooses to reveal himself to. Next, the fact that Jesus joined them on the road is a forceful reminder that God comes to us along the journey of life, not necessarily in the temple or Church alone. Secondly, we are reminded that when Jesus joined them along the road they were not aware of who this stranger was though they let him join in the conversation. They shared all their disillusionment, their shattered hopes and dreams about Jesus and the coming of the Messiah. Jesus in turn patiently listens to them and starts situating the recent events in the context of what had been written in the scriptures about Jesus. Yet they were slow to understand and accept all that Jesus said. In fact their way of coping with their disappointment was to withdraw from the company of the apostles and run away from Jerusalem. We are often tempted to withdraw and be by ourselves in order to wallow in our grief or depression rather than find strength in community. Next, we are told that as they came near to Emmaus Jesus walked ahead as if he was going on but they urged him to stay with them. They extended hospitality to Jesus and welcomed him to share their bread and board and their welcoming gesture was richly rewarded. They encountered Jesus. Do we realize that in being hospitable and welcoming to strangers we could be welcoming Christ? Incidentally, this reminds us that the scriptures should go hand in hand with the Eucharist. We understand life and scripture makes sense when we have shared our bread with others and received the bread broken for us. Were not our hearts burning? Once, a guide was explaining the painting of the Emmaus story to some visitors to the museum where it was on display. In the group was a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Browne, whose only son had been recently killed in a car accident. They were still in a state of shock and had come to the museum that day merely in the hope that it might take their mind off their sorrow for a little while. As the guide started the story the Brownes were only half listening. However he told it in such a way that by the time he had finished they were captivated. Afterwards they complemented the guide. "We've heard that story before, but it never moved us till now. You told it with such feeling and conviction." "There was a time when I told the story badly," replied the guide. "What happened to change that?" the Brownes asked. "Three years ago," the guide began, "my wife got cancer and died a slow agonizing death. I could see absolutely no meaning in her terrible suffering and untimely death. She was a good person. She didn't deserve all this. I was heartbroken. It was as if the world had come to an end. Nevertheless, I was persuaded to go back to work here at the museum. So once again I found myself telling the story, only more mechanically than before. Then one day something clicked with me, and suddenly, I realized that the story was not just about those two forlorn disciples but about me too. Like the two disciples, I was going down a sad and lonely road. Even though I'm a believer, regrettably, up to this Jesus had been little more than a shadowy figure who lived only in the pages of the Gospels. But now he came alive for me. I felt his presence by my side, the presence of a friend who knew all about human suffering. It was as if at that moment my eyes were opened and I saw things differently. My heart began to burn within me. As I went on telling the story, a healing process was at work inside me. Even though at times I am still fragile, I had begun to hope and live again." The Brownes were unable to hold back their tears. "Strange, they said, but as you told the story, we too felt our hearts burn within us." They told him the story of the tragic death of their son. As they parted the Brownes said, "Thank you for what you did for us. You are a true story teller." Flor McCarthy in "New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies" I never knew what things were like until... An old novel tells the story of a wealthy woman who travelled the world over, visiting museums and art galleries, meeting people, and viewing the sights. She became completely bored. Then she met a man who had none of this world's goods, but a great love for beauty and a sincere appreciation of it. In his company the world looked entirely different to her. At one point she told him, "I never knew what things were like, until you taught me how to look at them." Has our faith shown us a way of looking at life? Anonymous The Dismissal is most important A teacher was once speaking to her students about the Eucharist. She asked the students which was, in their opinion, the most important part of the mass. Without batting an eyelid, one student replied, "The Dismissal- Go, the mass is ended!" Initially the teacher thought the student was joking, but he was absolutely serious and meant just what he said. So the teacher asked him to explain, and this is his answer: "The whole purpose of the Mass is to nourish us spiritually -first, with God's Word in the Liturgy of the Word, and second, with God's Life in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, culminating in the Holy Communion. And God nourishes us so that we can go forth and bear witness to him by our lives, our words and our actions." The teacher was impressed and urged the student to continue. And so he added, "The Eucharist does not end with the Dismissal Rite. On the contrary, it begins there. -Like the two disciples at Emmaus, we must go forth and tell others what the Lord Jesus means to us." James Valladares in "Your Words, O Lord, Are Spirit, and They Are Life" You are my sunshine Like all good parents, when Karen and her husband found that another baby was on the way, they did what they could to help their three-year old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. When they found the baby was going to be a girl, they would gather Michael in their arms and he would sing to his sister in Mummy's tummy the only song he knows, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." The pregnancy progressed normally, then the labour pains, but complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael's sister is born but she is in serious conditions. The days inch by but the little girl gets worse. The paediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Michael keeps begging to see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he pleads. But children are not allowed in the ICU. Finally Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael to the hospital whether they like it or not, figuring that if he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive. She dresses him and marches him to the ICU, but the head nurse bellows, "Get that kid out of here now!" Karen glares into the nurse's face, her lips a firm line, "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Michael gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live, and begins to sing in the pure hearted voice of a three-year-old: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey..." Instantly, the baby responds. Her pulse rate becomes calm and steady. Keep on singing Michael! "You never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." The baby's ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr. Michael's little sister relaxes at rest, -healing rest seems to sweep over her. Keep on singing Michael! Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows. Funeral plans are scrapped. The next day -the very next day- the little girl is well enough to go home! - In an article about the incident, Woman's Day magazine called it "the miracle of a brother's song." Karen called it a miracle of God's love. The medical staff simply called it a miracle. We call it the Lazarus story all over again. Love is stronger than death. William Bausch in 'The Word In and Out of Season' May we know Him as the God of Hope and New Life! Fr. Jude Botelho [email protected] PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my Web site www.NetForLife.net Thank you.
