LET US MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PROCLAIM “I HAVE SEEN THE RISEN LORD”

Posted on April 19, 2022 by franksantucci

“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.” John 20,18

Mary Magdalene was the first to recognize that Jesus was risen and she rushed to tell the disciples who were fearfully isolated in the upper room. “I have seen the Lord!” she proclaimed. Initially incredulous, they too began to experience that Jesus was alive.

As a result of the French Revolution the people of the countryside of France were locked in their ignorance of their faith. Eugene de Mazenod had recognized the presence of the Risen Jesus in his life, and he dedicated his life to proclaiming “I have seen the Lord!” to those who were the most needy of coming to know the Risen Lord.

Inviting others to enter into his life of proclamation, he founded the Missionary Oblates, and insisted that their time be divided between “seeing the Lord” in prayer, reading and reflection and the proclamation, “I have seen the Lord!” whom they had encountered in this way:

The Missionaries will divide their group in such a way that while some strive in community to acquire the virtues and knowledge proper to a good missionary, others are travelling in the rural areas proclaiming the Word of God.
 When their apostolic journeys are over, they will return to the community to rest from their labours by exercising a ministry that is less demanding, and to prepare themselves through meditation and study for a more fruitful ministry when next called upon to undertake new work.

Request to the Capitular Vicars of Aix, 25 January 1816, EO XIII n.2

In these days, let us use this time in a similar way so that each day we too can proclaim “I have seen the Lord! He is risen and alive for me!”

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One Response to  LET US MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PROCLAIM “I HAVE SEEN THE RISEN LORD”

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    April 19, 2022 at 11:43

    I look again at what Eugene wrote “…to prepare themselves through meditation and study for a more fruitful ministry, when next called upon to undertake new work.”

    Mary Magdalene did not rest on her laurels, nor did she suddenly come into conflict with Peter who was to the head of the Church. She saw the Risen Christ and ran to tell the others. She ran to share the Good News with the men so that they too could shake off their fears and go to the tomb to see for themselves. Apostle to the apostles. She was intent on sharing what she had and what she knew.

    The word forgiveness comes to mind here. For I do not believe for a minute that she then just faded into obscurity and did nothing more. She did not lessen the men because of their fear. But rather she simply called them out of that fear: “I have seen the Lord.”

    She is a powerful model, like Mary, for all women and men. All the rewriting of scriptures and removal of some later on by Church authorities cannot change the fact that Jesus chose her to appear to first. He called her by name…

    What we as humans can to do try and make us feel better about ourselves.

    Frank wrote “…so that each day we too can proclaim “I have seen the Lord! He is risen and alive for me!”

    No matter what the other does or does not do we are called to reopen our eyes and see the Risen Lord, the Beloved as we continue to live our lives to the fullest, sharing our news with the others, with all others, without giving up.

    I learned this from Mary Magdalene, and from Eugene de Mazenod and his many sons and daughters.

    I have seen the Risen Lord, and come only to share the Good News with all just as you come to share the Good News with others and with me.

    Reply

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