Posted by The WORD in other words (2014) by Fr Gil Manalo SVD – Divine Word College of Urdaneta, Pangasinan
Wednesday 19th Week in Ordinary Time
A story is told about the great composer musician Puccini who had been famous for La Boheme and Madame Buterfly. It was in 1922 when he was at the middle of writing his last composition, the “Turandoe”, that he had his battle with terminal cancer. When his sickness worsened, he tasked his disciples to finish his opera. In 1924 he died leaving his work unfinished, so his disciples gathered together and finished the “Turandoe”.
In 1926 the world premier was performed in la Scala Opera House in Milan where Toscani, the most able student of Puccini, conducted. The opera went smoothly, with perfect concentration and admiration from the audience when suddenly the orchestra stopped; then, Toscani spoke in the midst of a deafening silence. “Thus far the Master wrote.” No one moved; then he took his baton with teary eyed faced his audience and said, “But his disciples finished his work.” The opera closed with a thunderous applause.
When Jesus resurrected from the dead, sin and evil did not cease to thrive in this world. So the Gospel for today shows Jesus preparing his disciples for the future scenario.
Jesus is involving his disciples and (all of us) to have a share in bringing back to his fold those who have gone astray. Just like the story of Puccini’s disciples finishing his masterpiece, Jesus’ followers must continue the mission he started.
Jesus is reminding us as a Church (his living body) that repentance (through fraternal correction) and prayers are essential for the continuity and completion of his masterpiece — the work of salvation.
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