Reflections – Page 2307 – Breaking the Word

08.05.11 HE OBLIGED THEM

Posted under Reflections on May 7th, 2011 by

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" …

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)

Jesus was very personal in dealing with his disciples and he never forced his way through. When these two were on their way home Jesus also took the same road along with them. He pretended even to go the same way and further on. He listened to their woes and allowed them to talk and express themselves fully. He did not straight away tell them that they were foolish or that they were wrong in their thinking and calculations.

Jesus was very obliging. When the disciples asked him to stay with them he took the chance immediately and stayed with them. Since his main concern was the disciples he was ready to go even that length to please them. He went along with them and he obliged them to make them feel that they were almost right. He let them do as they wished.

He vanished from their sight. As soon as the job was done Jesus was not there anymore. He did not go there to received honours and degrees but to make the disciples realize that the scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus. If he had continued there to be with them then they themselves would have continued in Emmaus. Since Jesus vanished from their sight they ran back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples what they had experienced. He walked with them; he obliged them and he revealed to them and then he vanished from them so that they could continue the same mission.

07.05.11 IT IS I DO NOT BE AFRAID

Posted under Reflections on May 7th, 2011 by

When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid." They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading. (Jn 6: 16-21)

After the great miracle of feeding the five thousand the crowd wanted to make him the king. But Jesus withdrew himself onto the mountain. Probably he went to pray. The disciples waited for him till the evening and they did not see him coming back from his prayers they embarked in a boat and rowed to Capernaum. They moved away without even being told to go. Probably Jesus repeated like this; that is whenever he went to pray he continued through the night or at least late into the evening so the disciples could not wait for them so they moved on, on their own.

Jesus was walking on the water and coming towards the disciples. Like everyone else the disciples were frightened. They could not think of anything else than a ghost. At first they were drowning into the sea because of the wind and the waves and they were struggling through the rough sea and now they were frightened by someone walking on the water. They could not think anything else.

Jesus said “It is I. Do not be afraid”. In between the roaring wind and the noisy waves the disciples were able to hear the words of Jesus. Amidst the struggles and difficulties the disciples were tuned to the voice of Jesus. They heard him speaking to the in spite of all the tumult. In hearing Jesus words and in wanting his presence amidst them brought them to the shore.