Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Do you remember as a young kid watching a movie and about halfway through you began to think that the ending was coming soon and you felt sad because you didn’t want it to end? Was that an early experience of the struggle between fantasy and the world of reality? What was more important for us? No doubt the coming of maturity brought more focus on reality and less time for fantasy.
Today’s reflections coming out of our liturgical readings take us to the experience of the early Church. They had to deal with a new experience of faith that thrilled their hearts and stretched their understanding. Were they watching a movie unfold in front of them? They saw amazing things happening. As people heard about the person of Jesus and felt his Risen presence within them they were responding with a new depth of love for one another and living with a new hope as never before.
But fantasy it was not. In fact, the harsh reality of sin and selfishness continues to challenge every aspect of the Good News. For the people then as well as now, the reality of suffering, rejection, and disappointment with self and others while embracing the Good News makes it all the more real. Each one of us must choose to believe that within the reality of suffering and doubt, Jesus is still doing the will of his Father, which is to bring us home.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections