DID you know why Jesus rose from death on the third day? A guy bantered, “Because the tomb was borrowed only for the weekend from a wealthy Jew. Jesus had to vacate it otherwise he would be evicted!”
Of course, that’s not the reason why he rose from the tomb. Rather he wanted to prove that everything he said about his Resurrection was true.
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In today’s gospel, this is what Jesus told the two disciples who looked forlorned over the report that Jesus had died as they walked on the road to Emmaus.
Happily, the story does not end there. The “veiled” encounter with the Risen Christ made them see life in a new light.
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Their doubts were dispelled in the breaking of the bread as they recognized him. For us, the Emmaus experience is not just a past event that happened long ago. The Risen Christ continues to encounter us – this time through the Sacred Scripture (Word of God) and the breaking of the bread (Eucharist), which two parts compose the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist in the Holy Mass.
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Encountering the Lord in his Word and the Eucharist is, however, not just a personal experience or a one-on-one relationship with God. Like the disciples of Emmaus, who afterwards joined the other disciples and went out to spread the Good News.
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We must, likewise, do the same since this is the SOCIAL dimension of our faith. St. James puts it succinctly in his letter, “FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 26,2).
The social aspect of faith should also be manifested by reaching out to the needy, especially during this COVID-19 crisis.
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Some years ago I gave a recollection to a group of doctors in Antipolo. One of them, a member of the Knights of Columbus, related in the sharing that their family was selling a property which would necessitate the eviction of the caretaker and his family.
Instead of ejecting the family, they, who must have understood Christian charity, donated a small lot at the back where the caretaker could personally own.
Imagine the joy of the caretaker and family who had lived there for many years.
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In these trying times, many countrymen have also shown their love and heroism in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, most especially our medical doctors, nurses, and other health workers. Some of them get sick, others tested positive and still others died due to exposure in tending their patients
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This happened to the married-couple doctors, Dennis Ramon Tudtud, oncologist and Helen, pathologist, who were active frontliners in a hospital in Cebu City.
Both died. Before Dr. Helen passed away, she did not even know that the husband was seriously sick and confined in the same hospital. After a few days, the husband also died.
The words of the Lord are a fitting tribute to these heroic frontliners: “There’s no greater love than this than to lay down one’s life for his fellowmen” (John 15,13).
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Unfortunately, many lose sight of the social aspect of faith in the “breaking of the bread” (Holy Mass). Many, for instance, receive Communion in the hope of becoming holier, without stopping to analyze that “becoming holier” means becoming more friendly, more honest, more approachable, more generous in sharing their time, treasure, and talent.
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The Eucharist is not a quick-fix ritual which works automatically. Yes, it works for us alright, but only if we translate what we pray at Mass into action.
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COVID-19 LAUGHS. Two men were waiting for their doctor to come out of his clinic. The first to go inside was very nervous. The man beside him tried to calm him down.
Just then, the doctor opened the door and saw the man angry and even slapped his shoulder. “Why did you do that?” the doctor asked.
“Imagine I told him I was scared of the result of my virus test and he said: “Don’t worry. THINK POSITIVE!”
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My cellphone is so full of information on the virus, it doesn’t vibrate anymore; it only coughs!
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The price of gasoline went down. Problem is: We cannot go out of the house. After the lockdown, the price will rise again!
