Sunday 27 March 2016

87/16 My Monologues & Musings : Glorious Easter

87/16 My Monologues & Musings : Glorious Easter  

Dear Risen Lord,
"Stay with us Lord"/
"Mane, cum nobis Domine",
This is the first recorded personal request made to you after your Resurrection.
It was made by the disciples on their way to Emmaus,right, Lord?
"Stay with us, Lord"/
"Mane cum nobis Domine!"

Dear Risen Lord,
Way back, half a century or so ago, in the minor seminary while teaching Latin, the holy priest - teacher used to make us memorize many biblical verses.
One of his favorite verses/ phrases was:

"Mane cum nobis Domine"/
"Stay with us Lord!"

The Venerably old priest strongly recommended us to keep repeatedly praying this verse.
Dear Risen Lord, ever since I have come to like this Latin phrase and want to keep praying,
"Mane cum nobis Domine!"

Dear Risen Lord,
You remember very well the strange reactions about your Resurrection,
Don't You?
It was a very unexpected, unbelievable unnoticed and confusion causing event even for your disciples.
Dear Risen Lord,
As a true human being, how did you feel about your own Resurrection and about the very disappointing reactions of your disciples concerning the-all-important event of your life: the Resurrection?

Dear Risen Lord,
As I want to come closer and closer to you,and keep on trying to understand you, let me take the liberty to delve deep into the feelings of your heart and the thoughts of your mind concerning your Resurrection.

Dear Risen Lord,
Didn't you have a mixed thinking and feelings in your mind and heart about your own Resurrection, something similar in the following lines:

"Finally, I am extremely happy to have accomplished the Mission which my Father had entrusted me with.
Yes, it was hard especially the final weeks and days.
It was a tough struggle on the eve of my death, in Gethsemani, agonizingly I sweat it out.
Then there was the so called trial by the Religious as well as Political leaders which was nothing but a mockery of justice, then my way up to Calvary with the cross on my back.
And there, upon the cross,
I commended my spirit into hands of my Father.
I am very very happy to have lived my life out as per the wishes of my Father.
I am sure, my Father can proudly keep saying,
"he is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
Yes, I feel thrilled!"

"But as I look back at my public ministry of three plus years, my mind is flooded with memories of all sorts, of success and of failures. My heart is weighed down by feelings of joy and of sadness, of agony and of ecstasy, of anger and of happiness. Some three or so years ago, as I began my ministry, it was all a flush of success:
the success of calling and collecting a band of ordinary yet very enthusiastic disciples,
the success of healing many a sick,
the success of throwing out the demons who had been tormenting many a lives,
the success of the happy memories of feeding the hungry, and
the success of teaching and preaching my Father's Unconditional Love and Compassion and it goes on and on...
the innumerable happy memories of success...!"

"I also have memories of sad experiences like:
the constant opposition of the Pharisees, the frequent confrontation of the Saducees, the occasional threat from the High Priest, from the Herods and from the Romans represented by Pilot etc.
They saw me a threat to their power, position, and pelf.
I was a threat to their vested interested.
I knew it, all along, that they were after my blood.
It made me more sorry for them
than sad for myself!
But what ached me most was:
the behavior of my own chosen ones,
my disciples whom I tended and groomed with unconditional love and with unlimited patience.
When they fought among themselves,
when they wanted to sit on my right and left,
when they couldn't perform healing, when they disowned me,
when they betrayed me, when they abandoned me in my last hours of agony, and above all,
when they didn't believe in my Resurrection even when they were told about it by Mary Magdalen,
and even when I walked along and talked with them!
Sure, it pained me.
But I turned that pain around as an added energy to keep on loving them with enduring patience and with undying hope to see them grow up and transform themselves as I had been wishing for them.
That's why I couldn't and didn't get impatient or angry with them.
That's why I didn't scold them and made them feel guilty.
Finally I am happy, very happy
that I am proved right.
I am happy:
when I heard, "Raboni"
I am happy:
when I heard,"My Lord and My God"!
I am happy:
When they recognized me as I broke bread!

Looking back,
I have no regrets,
I hold no complaints,
I harbour no ill feelings.
I have nothing but love for them,
I have great admiration for them,
I have unending hope in them,
I will be with them until the end of the world.
They are mine.
I want you to know:
They just represent everyone of you.
I see you in them!
I see in them every one of my sister and brother.
I have the same feeling for you, for every human being as I have for my disciples.
I shall and will wait for you until you personally experience:
my Resurrection in your life!"

Thank you, Lord!
As usual, you always surprise me,
Didn't You, Lord?

"Stay with us, Lord"
"Mane cum nobis, Domine!"
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Amen

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone of my loved ones.
Everyone of my enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Easter Sunday, 27th March 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

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