May your people exalt for ever O God,
in renewed youthfulness of spirit,
so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption,
we may look forward in confident hope,
to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection.
In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:
1. What does youthfulness of spirit mean to me?
2. In the light of your reflection on youthfulness of spirit, how do you relate to the first 2 lines of the collect?
3. What does it mean to me to be God's adopted child?
4. How will I rejoice this week in the restored glory of my adoption?
5. What is my attitude/feelings towards my own death and resurrection?
6. How will I continue to sing and live alleluia throughout this week?
Today's gospel of the disciples on the road to Emmaus is an interesting one. Throughout this story, Jesus invites the disciples ( and us) to listen to Him through His word, to receive Him in the Eucharist and to go out and spread the Good News.
LISTEN: What did these disciples say? Did not our hearts burn within us as He explained the scripture to us?
Do we feel that burning of love and understanding when we listen and contemplate the scriptures?
Do we feel that burning and understanding when we listen to the homily given at Mass? Do we organize our shopping list or switch off to the homily instead? Perhaps we feel we have heard it all before. However, in the light of today's gospel let us renew our efforts to listen to God through the scripture (both our own reading of it and when it is read at Mass) and when God speaks to us through the priest in the homily. Let our hearts burn with love for God as we listen.
RECEIVE: What did the disciples see? The Scripture says 'they recognised Him in the breaking of the bread'.
Do we recognise Jesus as we receive Him in the Eucharist? Has our reception of the Eucharist become perfunctory or just a habit- we go to Mass, receive communion and go home without much thought.
Perhaps we might like, in the light of this gospel to consider our attitude to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. Do we desire to receive Jesus often? What is our preparation for receiving Jesus in the sacrament? What is our level of thanksgiving afterwards? Do we recognise Jesus in the ''breaking of the bread''- after all the ''bread'' is in fact Jesus. It is His real presence. How awesome is it to receive Jesus?
Go out and spread the Good News: Once the disciples recognise Jesus, they leave immediately to go back to tell the other disciples. What do we do when we recognise Jesus. Do we spread the good news too?
Many catholics feel that they are incapable of spreading the good news. However, we spread it by how we live our lives- in the day to day encounters we have with family, parishioners, work colleagues. We spread it by our hope and enthusiasm even in the face of the suffering in the world. We spread it by our longing to share what we ourselves have. We want to share the good news.
If we assume that we need a listening ear to what we share, then we may not bother to share the good news. If we share the good news and allow God to open hearts and ears, then we are, like the disciples, partnering in the work of salvation.
We cannot however spread the good news if we, ourselves are not convinced in mind and heart that it is indeed good news. So we need to consider this point carefully- do you really consider your faith to be good news and do you want to share it with others? If you feel that you do not know your faith to be able to share it, then why not start to fill in the blank spots. Some time ago, I started a series on this blog working my way through the compendium of the catholic church and making it relevant to me. Perhaps this might be a starting point. If not, then do not give up, explore other options.
Before you attend Mass this Sunday, I encourage you not to make it the same as all the other sundays- make a decision to
- listen as best you can to God's Word as it is read and to the homily as the scriptures are explained- let your heart burn as you listen.
- Receive Jesus in the best possible way you can- make a preparation, be actively engaged at Mass and show Jesus your gratitude for receiving Him in your thanksgiving.
- Spread the good news: Before you leave the church, choose one way you will spread the good news this coming week.
I had an interesting encounter during the week on spreading the good news. On a personal note- my neighbour ( not a catholic) is going overseas and was quite stressed because the accommodation through her work had not been organized. This was a week before her family was due to move, and yet the removalists had already been. She was feeling totally anxious.
I was heading off to Mass so I said I would light a candle for her and pray during Mass for their needs. She smiled, but I felt it was a smile of '' politeness''.
When I came home, about 2 hours later, she rang on my front door- she was so excited and relieved- ''I cant believe it , the accommodation was sorted whilst you were at church. How amazing is that''. She was one very happy neighbour.!!!
So sometimes spreading the good news can be as simple as speaking out our faith even in the face of ''that smile of politeness'' knowing that God listens and hears our prayers for others. It is believing ourselves first and then taking the risk to step out.
How will YOU listen, receive and spread Jesus this week?
ALLELUIA TO YOU ALL.
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