Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Xene Sanchez SVD – Verbum Bible, Kinshasa, Congo
Monday 19th Week in Ordinary Time
We had a guest in the house who always chose to watch the same State- owned channel. It portrayed a smoothly-run society contrary to the realities we faced daily.
For our guest we had the best leaders and a great country. He could not see beyond what he wanted to see or hear what he wanted to hear. In a way, we all have “filters” in perceiving reality.
The Gospel of today recounts Jesus’ second announcement of his passion, death and resurrection. The evangelist briefly commented, “And they were overwhelmed with grief.”
A closer look makes us wonder why such reaction? They seemed to hear only the first two parts of Jesus’ words, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him.” Their minds were closed to what Jesus said about the “third day” when he would be raised.
Isn’t the RESURRECTION the core of our Christian faith? Isn’t it the most joyful news ever proclaimed? The prophecy about this greatest event would have driven away all sadness and replaced it with hope and confidence.
After his identity as the Christ was revealed, Jesus was instructing his disciples about a deeper reality. The popular idea of the Messiah as a powerful military commander was to be replaced with a suffering servant of Yahweh. If it was already very difficult for the disciples to accept that, how much more the resurrection?
It took a long and painful process for the followers of Christ to know him fully. It took time for the disciples to go beyond their personal views and outlook to enter into God’s logic and plan.
May the Lord “open our eyes and hearts” like he did to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
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