They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ … He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’ (Luke 24:35-48)
Handed on to his Apostles by Jesus, this word has lost none of its power in the course of the ages. We have experienced the fact that because it issued from the mouth of him who is himself eternal life, it is always spirit and life.”
Eugene de Mazenod, Pastoral Letter 1844
Today we can understand in a deeper way the experience of the disciples locked in the upper room because they were afraid. The risen Jesus appeared to them and opened their minds to his presence in the Scriptures. Let us invite the Risen Jesus to penetrate the walls of our “upper room” today and give him time to open our minds to understand how present he is whenever we read the Word of God.
Our OMI Rule of Life, totally impregnated by the spirit of St Eugene can be applied to every disciple today:
The Word of God nourishes our spiritual life and apostolate. We will not only study it diligently but also develop a listening heart, so that we may come to a deeper knowledge of the Saviour whom we love and wish to reveal to the world. This immersion in God’s Word will enable us to understand better the events of history in the light of faith. (OMI Constitutions and Rules, C.33)
Easter: an invitation to develop a listening heart. I have been struggling with Easter – did it even happen? No church gathering, no Eucharist except to watch it being shared on a computer screen in my room. I can hear the screeching of my internal brakes with this last statement – I just wrote “…no Eucharist”. Dear God how can I begin to share the Good News when I am filled with so many fears and doubts?
Yesterday I was asked to write the Scripture Reflection for this coming weekend – to prepare and then share it via video with our parishioners. It was to focus on Thomas, doubting Thomas. I silently told God I would have been much better if I could share my thoughts on the Emmaus story but he gave me Thomas. Thomas who was struggling so greatly because everything had changed. I wrote and what I wrote was good and beautiful; but it was coming from me while I was still locked in my pre-COVID19 room. Filled with fear and unsure of how to walk through it. Call me Thomasette.
“Let us invite the Risen Jesus to penetrate the walls of our upper room and give him time to open our minds…” Easter took place 5 days ago and yet it did not fill me. It is only this morning that I begin to be able to let go of what I have been holding onto.
Easter began to happen for me yesterday as I read the scriptures, going to many resources to what I could share with my beloved parish brothers and sisters. I am embarrassed once again to admit and show how weak I am, how I continue to carry doubts and fears, how difficult it is for me to accept and move into change.
God knows what God is doing. Yesterday he shared his Word with me, the starting point for me to develop a listening heart. Once again this shared and loved Rule of Life expresses and invites me, us to open our hearts to a way of life.
“The Word of God nourishes our spiritual life and apostolate. We will not only study it diligently but also develop a listening heart, so that we may come to a deeper knowledge of the Saviour whom we love and wish to reveal to the world. This immersion in God’s Word will enable us to understand better the events of history in the light of faith. (OMI Constitutions and Rules, C.33)
This offers me hope, deep and immense hope. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds, to enter into him in a new way. Just as do the words of this constitution. There is an invitation in all of this even if I have taken awhile to properly read it and accept it.