Easter Monday
by VP
Posted on Monday April 01, 2024 at 12:00AM in Meditations
The Pilgrims of Emmaus on the Road (Les pèlerins d'Emmaüs en chemin) - James Tissot
"They discoursed together of the things that had happened. The subject of this Gospel is a relation of Christ's appearing on the day of His Resurrection, to two of His disciples, as they were going to Emmaus. They had not yet a faith of Christ being risen. We hoped, said they, that it was He who was to redeem Israel: but now they seemed to fear a disappointment. However, such was their love for their Master, that they could speak of nothing but of Him. This is the subject of their discourse by the way; and while they thus entertain each other, Christ joins Himself to their company, though as yet unknown, and soon after opens their eyes to see the unreasonableness of their own fears, and to know Him.
It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Hearts possessed with God, speak of God: and where there is a solicitude for truth and salvation, this cannot be smothered, but will discover itself, either for the help of others, or in hopes of being improved by some new light. Mary Magdalen seeks her Lord, and not finding Him at the sepulchre, her uneasy mind speaks its wants, and makes enquiry of those whom she meets. These two disciples have their desires on their Lord; and they communicate their concern to a stranger, who presents Himself on the way. And who is this stranger but Christ Himself, who knowing their solicitude, answers the earnestness of their desires, in offering Himself both to Magdalen and to these disciples, and in being His own discoverer? So that they not only find him by seeking, but even then possess Him, while they are looking for Him.
This is not an encouragement to discover all our sentiments or uneasiness of mind to every one who is thrown in our way by accident; for this cannot be done without great indiscretion: but it ought to excite in Christians a just solicitude for all that belongs to eternity, and to encourage them to manifest this concern, in conferring with those persons, whose charity fits them for being instruments of good. This method of conferring with others is particularly necessary for those states, which have difficult duties to discharge. This necessity is grounded on the general narrowness and weakness of the human mind, which meeting with the infirmities of constitution, as in want of vigour, weakness of memory, excess of some passion, niceness, sloth or self-love, or in want of reflection, is the occasion of many considerable branches of duty being neglected, and sometimes no more thought of than if they were no part of their concern. Add to these the general partiality to which we are subject, in our own affairs: and that though we study others closely, we see ourselves only by halves. From these heads, there will appear a necessity for all, in difficult states, to confer with others; that they may receive the benefit of other men's reflections, and by a communication of thoughts be helped to discover their oversights, and to amend.
For what condition of life
is there, which has not many obligations, both as to spirituals and
temporals? And are not all these subject to great oversights, neglects,
and injustices, such as are injurious to God, our neighbour, and
ourselves? And is not the infirmity of
our nature such, that we go on very often blinded by passion, sloth, or
interest, in such ways as are either dangerous, scandalous, or
unwarrantable; obvious enough to others, and yet either not at all
discerned by ourselves, or so little regarded, as not to be thought
worth our care? And what is more effectual for remedying this evil, than
frequent conferring with others upon our state? Such discourses will
awaken and enlighten. They will raise doubts, suggest matter for
consulting, discover the subtle workings
of self-love, interest, and passion, and oblige us to make many
reflections, and see plainly what we really are. Is not this motive
enough to recommend the practice of these
two disciples, in discoursing together, since it may be so much to our
advantage, both of soul and body? Why then is not this practice more
extended? Because few are really solicitous to do well; many are afraid
of being reproved, and are unwilling to take advice of those who, they
fear, will make them uneasy by freely censuring what they see deserves it. But they who will
not make use of those means, which are proper for receiving light and visits from
heaven, must perish at last in the darkness, which they love." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother.
