Obstacles to the Heart

“And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.”

Lk. 24:30-31

Is your heart open? What are some things that keep your heart closed off? The Apostles Peter and John encountered a man crippled from birth at the gate of the temple area. When he begged and asked for help, Peter told him that he had neither silver nor gold but that what he did have, he would give to him — his great friendship with Jesus Christ, and at that the man was able to walk. Knowing Christ and friendship with Jesus is worth much more than any amount of money. Do you agree with that?

When two disciples of Jesus were on the way to Emmaus they encountered a man who seemingly did not know what had happened in Jerusalem these past couple of days. They explained to him what had taken place, and that man, who really was Jesus (but they did not know), began to teach them about Scriptures and pointed out all that points to Jesus and what had happened to Him. They invited the man to stay with them. Jesus agreed. They sat at table and broke bread together. This man “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them,” and at that the disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognized that man to be their teacher, Jesus. What kept these two disciples from seeing Jesus?

Maybe it was doubt that Jesus would rise. Skepticism. Lack of faith. We do not know. But what we do know is what prevents our own eyes and hearts from recognizing Jesus. Do we see Jesus in the Eucharist? Do we see Jesus in our neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members, enemies, and strangers? If we do not, that problem is not them, it’s us. What prevents our eyes from seeing and recognizing Christ? What are the obstacles that keep my heart from faith? What is keeping my heart closed to Jesus, who unceasingly knocks at the door of my heart?

Who Have You Seen?

“Mary went and announced to the disciples,

‘I have seen the Lord,’

and then reported what he had told her.”

John 20:18

After encountering the Resurrected Lord, Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples that she has seen Jesus, rose from the dead and telling them all that she had seen and experienced. Whether the people she encountered believed her or not we do not know, but we do not that did not stop her from sharing her encounter with others.

Have we encountered the Lord? The Risen Christ? Have we told others about Him and all that He has done for us? We will only tell others about Jesus if we have personally and deeply encountered Him. And this can only come about if we spend time with the Lord in prayer. Whether it be sitting before the Tabernacle in Church or taking a walk along the river, it can be a time for prayer. Invite Jesus to go with you.

Every day of the first week of Easter the Church celebrates as Easter Sunday - the Octave of Easter. May we allow these next couple of days draw us deeper into the Resurrection of our Lord so that we too may run and tell others about Jesus and all that He has done for us. The Jesus who is the Son of God who came to earth, suffered and died, descended into hell, and rose victoriously and triumphantly, conquering sin and death. That is who we have seen.

Happy Easter.

Driven by Fear

“Then Jesus said to them,

‘Do not be afraid.

Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,

and there they will see me.’”

Matthew 28:10

When the guards went into the city to tell the chief priests what they had seen and what had happened with Jesus, the chief priests bribed them by giving them money and asking them to tell the people that Jesus’ disciples came and stole the body in the middle of the night. We were told that they took the money and did as they were instructed. The guards were driven by fear.

On the contrary, Mary Magdalene and the disciples were driven by faith. The Risen Lord had appeared to them, and he told them to not be afraid and to tell the others to go to Galilee where they will see Jesus. They did, and they were fearless.

Are our actions driven by fear or by faith? How deep is our faith? On the first day after Easter Sunday we are presented with this act of deception by the chief priests. What were they afraid of? Were they afraid that they were wrong and that Jesus was right? Why couldn’t they accept the fact that Jesus rose from the dead? Perhaps because if they did, they would lose all credibility, and that is something that they could not risk.

What or who do we allow to control our actions and decisions? If we are driven by and act on fear we will end up living in falsehood and in the darkness and not in the truth; but if we are driven by and act on faith, despite any pain or suffering, we will live in freedom, with a clear conscience. Jesus came, suffered, died, and rose from the dead so that we no longer need to live in the darkness. So just as our Lord said to His disciples, He says to you today, “Do not be afraid.”