Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.
Jesus uses a very common scene of his time to explain his relationship with the disciples. It highlights some important topics of Christian discipleship. The disciples let Jesus guide them, with docility, for He alone knows how to lead them where there is life, life eternal. Having Jesus ahead of them, they will walk safely, not worrying about losing the way toward the goal.
READ MOREDear Fellow Disciples, peace!
The journey of the disciples to Emmaus concludes with a meal shared with a stranger, at first, then no more a stranger but to their surprise, with the Risen Lord. Hospitality is common among Jews, however here it's also a sign of the interior transformation the disciples experienced and lived.
The stranger walking with them reminds them of all the prophecies about the Messiah. It seems that he was doing a liturgy of the Word or a Lectio Divina to help them to understand the Scriptures and how they have been fulfilled in the past few days. Then, his actions during the meal are very similar with Jesus' action at the last supper. This repetition was sufficient for their eyes to be open and for them to recognize the Risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
READ MOREDear Fellow Disciples
Thomas can perfectly represent many of us, disciples who impose conditions to their faith. He demands physical contact with the Risen Lord to verify His wounds and believe. The wounds which he had no courage to share or to witness a couple of days prior.
READ MOREDear Fellow Disciples, peace.
The disciples understood the resurrection of Jesus gradually. Peter saw that the tomb was empty and acknowledged the fact. The disciple whom Jesus loved, on the other hand, saw and believed. He is really risen as He promised.
The faith of the beloved disciple contrasts with the faith of Peter. A paradigm for Christian discipleship. While one is sensible to the signs of the Father’s love working in the Son, the other limits himself to the superficiality of the facts.
READ MOREDear Fellow Disciples, peace
In front of Jesus Crucified all idealizations and empty optimisms fall, when they are founded in the erroneous idea of an easy discipleship. A discipleship of glory and recognition. Only those who are capable of recognizing Jesus nailed to the Cross will be able to move forward. Jesus, the messiah of God, bearer of salvation for humanity. Those able to confess Him as the Blessed One, Beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased. This is the first step to christian and intentional discipleship.
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