MANE NOBISCUM, DOMINE!
Thursday in the 3rd Week of Easter
Jn 6:44-51
In Lk 24:29, the two disciples from Emmaus invited the unrecognized Jesus, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” The verses that followed recount to us that the two otherwise desolate disciples felt how their hearts were burning as Jesus opened the Scripture to them and broke bread with them. Thereupon, they realized that their unrecognized fellow traveler was actually Jesus. Jesus then vanished from their sight but He became more present in their hearts.
Our beloved Pope John Paul II, in his last Apostolic Letter, “Mane Nobiscum, Domine” (“Stay With Us, Lord”), points to the Holy Eucharist as the Lord’s response to the request of the two disciples from Emmaus. In the Eucharist, we have Jesus in our midst, ever present not only with us but to us as well. While Christmas is Jesus coming to us, the Eucharist is Jesus staying with us.
When the two disciples from Emmaus invited the Lord to stay with them, they did not recognize Him. Perhaps, they thought they were actually doing their unrecognized companion a favor by offering Him their home for shelter through the night and their table for a meal. But their invitation was actually a cry from deep within. It was a cry for a companion in their saddest and most confusing moment. Their unrecognized fellow traveler explained to them, in a better light, the sadness and confusion they were going through. Perhaps, they wanted more of that light. They were hoping there would be more of the strength that came from His words. They were hungering for the peace that seemed to overflow from His presence. Jesus answered their need. Jesus gave them the Eucharist. Jesus gave them Himself.
The Eucharist continues to be the source and summit of our life up until today because the Eucharist is Jesus Himself. He is the Bread of Life. He remains always available to us. He answers our deepest hunger: “Mane nobiscum, Domine!”
Jn 6:44-51
In Lk 24:29, the two disciples from Emmaus invited the unrecognized Jesus, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” The verses that followed recount to us that the two otherwise desolate disciples felt how their hearts were burning as Jesus opened the Scripture to them and broke bread with them. Thereupon, they realized that their unrecognized fellow traveler was actually Jesus. Jesus then vanished from their sight but He became more present in their hearts.
Our beloved Pope John Paul II, in his last Apostolic Letter, “Mane Nobiscum, Domine” (“Stay With Us, Lord”), points to the Holy Eucharist as the Lord’s response to the request of the two disciples from Emmaus. In the Eucharist, we have Jesus in our midst, ever present not only with us but to us as well. While Christmas is Jesus coming to us, the Eucharist is Jesus staying with us.
When the two disciples from Emmaus invited the Lord to stay with them, they did not recognize Him. Perhaps, they thought they were actually doing their unrecognized companion a favor by offering Him their home for shelter through the night and their table for a meal. But their invitation was actually a cry from deep within. It was a cry for a companion in their saddest and most confusing moment. Their unrecognized fellow traveler explained to them, in a better light, the sadness and confusion they were going through. Perhaps, they wanted more of that light. They were hoping there would be more of the strength that came from His words. They were hungering for the peace that seemed to overflow from His presence. Jesus answered their need. Jesus gave them the Eucharist. Jesus gave them Himself.
The Eucharist continues to be the source and summit of our life up until today because the Eucharist is Jesus Himself. He is the Bread of Life. He remains always available to us. He answers our deepest hunger: “Mane nobiscum, Domine!”
posted by Fr. Bobby @ 3:00 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Stay with us, Jesus as we continue to struggle the trials in our lives, the hardships that we encounter and problems that will come our way. Be with us and help us to feel your presence in every situation in our lives. We may not understand your will for us, but may we have an open heart and the strong shoulder to fulfill your will in your terms and not in our terms.
God bless po..
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