We have begun the season of "Mystagogia". These are the weeks after the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus where the Church reflects with newly initiated on their Easter experience. These are the days where the actions of the liberating Christ are made intimate in the lives of individuals and communities.
Often in life we look for the presence of Christ, but we are left empty. Often we search the landscape for a sign of the sunrise of human liberation and find only darkness. To counterbalance the absence we at times experience, these weeks are replete with the presence of the Risen Christ!
Certainly in the days of the disciples between Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension there were strong encounters with the Risen Christ, whose effect animates the Church even to this day. In that time in history the events of the Risen and Liberating Christ’s ongoing presence were real and impactful. In the days after the Resurrection, we search for Christ present and find him there!
The Gospels recount several instances where the disciples of Jesus did not recognize him. Disciples though they were, they were fooled by his physical appearance. Nor did they pick up on some supernatural aura emanating from him. Finally, they recognized him in the action that was performed.
In Luke 24, two disciples encountered a stranger on the road to Emmaus. They were astounded that the stranger had not heard of the recent events regarding a certain Jesus who died and rose again. Then, when Jesus performed the now sacred action of breaking the bread, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”
In John 2, the disciples were out fishing. After a whole night of trying, they had not caught a thing. Then, “Jesus was standing on the shore, and the disciples did not know it was not Jesus.”: When the stranger told them to throw they nets on the other side of the boat, a catch was made that defied their ability to even pull it in. Then the Gospel recounts “None of the disciples dared to asked him, ‘Who are you?’ because then they realized it was the Lord.”
It is precisely in action that the disciples recognized the presence of the Master. It was not until Jesus broke that bread that the disciples’ eyes were opened. It was not until the tremendous catch of fish – a catch that symbolized the whole known world that would be brought to the faith -- that they realized who it was they were talking to.
Thomas, "the twin" refused to recognize the Lord. Finally he appeared "as a ghost" in the midst of the disciples. Where Thomas not only recognized but also confessed Christ as Lord was in the wounds in Christ's hands and side. Sharing and accepting wounds were, in this case, the action by which the Lord was shown and received.
We can have the highest of ideals. We can pave the road to perdition with the best of intentions. We can speak with the glibbest of tongues and persuade others with the force of our personality. We can repent and repent. But it is in action that “the wheel meets the road.” It is by doing works that the Risen Christ is present.
The Acts of the Apostles, describes an assembly of believers now intimate with the Risen Christ. They were “were of one heart and one mind,” sharing all they had. Does this community embrace the Truth and celebrate the presence of the Risen Christ? If we aspire to be a community of liberation, do we assure that we ourselves are free in our spirit and in our heart? Can we be “recognized” by our works of hospitality. Are there some people who are not welcome at the doors of our Church because of their socioeconomic status or because of their sexual orientation? Are there some people who are not welcome at our communion procession because of legal restriction on a mistake they made in the past? Are there some people who are not welcome in the sanctuary because of their gender or because they are married? How can we be witnesses to the Truth, when we harbor the spirit of the oppressor and court an oppressive legal structure?
The Presence of the Risen Christ can be felt in the Christian community dedicated to works of liberation. Welcome to those who have recently experienced the Sacraments of Initiation! Welcome to all who seek to throw off the yokes of oppression!
|