What was it like for the disciples during those days before and after the Resurrection?
Have you ever had your dreams crushed? That must have been how the disciples felt when Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. It was just days earlier that they were confident that their Master would establish the kingdom.
We, like the disciples, suffer periods when our whole world is thrown into a whirlwind. We literally don’t know what is up or down. What was stable just weeks or days ago is now a confusing mess. Where do we turn? Whom do we trust? What is the best decision to make? No doubt these were the feelings and thoughts of the disciples during the Passion of our Lord.
Notice that Good Friday is sandwiched between two important events: the institution of the Mass and the Emmaus road experience.
It was immediately before the disciples' darkest period that Christ instituted the Mass. In the Mass, Jesus literally gives us his body and blood as a complete outpouring of his love. Every time we participate in the Mass we must remind ourselves of the words Jesus spoke before he gave the apostles the words of institution, “This is My body.” He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). We hear in his words his deep longing to be with us. Imagine that! Jesus desperately wants to be with you and completely offer himself to you.
After the Resurrection, many of Jesus’ disciples were not aware that He had risen from the dead. In Luke 24:13-31 we see Jesus coming to His disciples in the Mass. On the road to Emmaus Jesus walked alongside His followers and they were not aware that it was He. Imagine going through your own tough times and not realizing that Jesus is walking right next to you. Then, after Jesus told them all about himself from the Old Testament, the disciples urged Him, saying, “Stay with us” (Luke 24:29).
Is that the cry of your heart this Easter season? Jesus, stay with me!?
Immediately after they issued this request He again speaks of the Mass: “When he was at table with them, he took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (vs 30-31).
The next time you experience the darkness, remember what Jesus says to us: “I earnestly desire to be with you” in the Mass. And next time you are discouraged, remember that the longing in your heart for Jesus to stay with you is answered in the Mass.
Going to Mass and sitting before the Blessed Sacrament are the greatest ways of learning to die to ourselves and live for Him.
Though we have completed our Lenten journey, it is really only the beginning. The spiritual growth we experienced during Lent is fully realized during the forty days after Easter. It was during the forty days after Easter that the disciples received their most concentrated teaching from Jesus. The beginning of Sacred Tradition and the establishment of the Magisterium came out of this forty day period.
In short, the forty days after Easter are a time of forgiveness, healing and significant revelation. In these forty days after Easter, prepare to receive from the Lord.
(Jeff Cavins is co-founder and Sr. Vice President of e3mil.com.)
