“Jesus, it is an honor to be called your disciple. I want to see you exalted today as I proclaim your gospel with my lips and with my actions.”
Reflection
As the days passed after the Resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles were getting used to their fleeting glimpses of the Risen Christ, appearing here and there so dramatically. He had pretty much cured their depression following the horrible crucifixion on Calvary by finally convincing them that He was alive!
They never knew when He would appear next, with new commands to preach the Good News everywhere. Then, He suddenly ascended into the air before their eyes, and was lost to sight in the clouds. They must have thought in dismay, "He's left us again!"
So what did they do? It was one thing to label themselves followers of the Christ when He was not too far away. It was quite another to think of facing the Jewish leaders without His earthly presence. Still shaken at His seeming abandonment, they withdrew together to that upper room to pray and ponder what He had taught them. Wisely, they kept near His mother, Mary, in those nine days of waiting for the Holy Spirit.
They must have remembered what Jesus had said to them: "If you really love me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father." In other words, I have a better way to remain with you. I will live in you and in the Church through My Spirit and in My Vicar. And did they remember His wonderful farewell address in that same upper room just a few weeks before at that strange, sacred meal the night before He died? Did they now understand the reason for His institution of the Eucharist that He might remain with them always?
When we think ourselves alone and abandoned, when the contrary spirit of the world depresses us, Christ is there! When we are tempted to give up, to feel far from God, Christ is there through the Spirit!
I think that what Christ really wants of us modern-day followers, is concrete, lasting action. We must not act as though He were present. He is present! His being present in the Spirit is far more powerful than His earthly presence would have been.
We must go simply and deliberately into our souls daily - into the core of our being - and there listen to Him in silence. If you need reassurance that He is truly present, go spend some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament or—better yet—in a chapel where He is exposed for adoration. Then, strengthened by His grace, we can confidently go about our Mission. We need that grace more than ever in these days of rebuilding our nation and our world.
No comments:
Post a Comment