TRUITY Spiritual Mentoring

As they approached the village, the man walked ahead as if he were going on. But the disciples were insistent, "Stay here with us, because it is nearly evening and it will soon be dark." So he went in to stay with them.

When he joined them at the table, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and the disciples recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, "Of course! We should have known! Our hearts were filled with hope when he spoke to us, and the Scriptures seemed to have been written just for us."

Immediately they returned to Jerusalem, where they found the rest of the disciples gathered together. They said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then the disciples told what had happened to them on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
~ The Gospel according to Luke 24:28-35

On Sunday night the Discovery Channel aired a documentary about a cave under a Jerusalem suburb. Not just a cave, but a tomb: the burial site of Jesus Christ. And — according to the film maker — the repository of the bones of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and other members of the Lord’s family.

If this is true: if Jesus’ bones were lying in a tomb in Jerusalem these many years — what of the Resurrection? the Ascension? the many post-crucifixion meetings the disciples said they had with the Risen Christ? Were these hallucinations? Were they all just deluded? Are we all deluded?

Have Christians down through the centuries been confused — crazy? mistaken? lying? — when they affirmed the presence of the Living Lord in their lives? When they insisted that they "met Him on the road"; that "He was with us in the breaking of the bread!" When Christ touched their souls, healed their afflictions, transformed their lives ... was it all a big mistake?

Have we been wrong all along?

There is a very funny British television series called "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy." It is a science fiction tale set in the future in which an intergalactic travel writer visits and evaluates various planets. The series is named after the fictional guide which, according to the story, is well-loved for its comforting cover which says, in large, friendly letters, "DON’T PANIC."

I’ve vowed, on more than one occasion, to use that as cover art for my Bible. "Don’t panic."

Maybe we ought to substitute Jesus’ frequent reassurance to his disciples, "Do not be afraid" with this succinct, modern variation. DON’T PANIC. Everything is going to be all right. Have a little faith, for Pete’s sake.

It is hard for me to believe how much excitement "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" has generated in many religious circles. Well, not "excitement," exactly. Perhaps "panic" better describes the attitude.

Immediately upon the announcement of the discovery Jesus’ burial site — which has yet to be confirmed by the larger scientific community — it was denounced by clergy of all stripes and creeds. It is a hoax; a publicity stunt; an attack on Christianity; it was produced in order to hurt our feelings during Lent. "It always seems to happen just before Easter. It’s as if there’s a script going around, and everyone gets a turn at it — to call into doubt the central theme of Christianity," conservative watchdog Robert Knight fulminated.

I read these things and hear these words and it makes me feel sad.

And I wonder: is our faith truly so fragile, our experience of Christ so limited, our belief in God’s goodness and power so narrowly defined?

It’s astonishing, really. On one hand we’re such literalists — rattled by a bunch of bones in a box. On the other, we fail to see what is literally under our nose: the Holy and Affirming Presence that meets us every day. We don’t seem to realize that the Living Christ is alive. Here. With us. Emmanuel. Remember?

The soaring hope that gives wings to your soul when sacred music fills the air; the protective warmth of the Gracious Spirit during community prayers; the joy of true friendship; the comfort of genuine concern; the gentle solace of a quiet garden, a cup of tea, a budding daffodil.

Remember?

Can something so minor as a few scribbled names really shake our belief in the Beloved’s Promise? Can we ever stop being Christians? Haven’t our hearts been filled with hope when He speaks to us? When the Advocate guides our reading, don’t the Scriptures seem to have been written just for us? Hasn’t the Living Lord walked with us, guided us, inspired and nurtured us wherever we have traveled?

In response to accusations that the program may cause Christians to doubt their faith, the director said, "People will have to believe what they want to believe."

Perhaps a better answer is that we will believe what we know to be true. For we have met the Risen Lord, again and again, on the Road of life.

Virtual hugs and real-time blessings,

Deborah +

This Week’s Suggested Spiritual Exercise: When are you truly aware of Christ’s presence in your life? Who are what helps you to be mindful of this precious Gift? As you think back over your life, were there times when you felt alone, but know now that the Lord was guiding you, protecting you, or inspiring you? Give thanks to our loving God for all of these times.

As for me, I’m giving special thanks to the Holy One for the opportunity to use the word "fulminated" — which I’ve never used before. It goes to show that the Beloved hides little treats for us in the most surprising places!

One time when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They replied, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered, "The Messiah of God."
~ The Gospel according to Luke 9:18-20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOIN OUR LIST: If you would like the weekly Reflection to be sent directly to your email address, you may join our list for free by emailing dbgiordano@comcast.net with the word "Reflections" in the subject or body of the email. The Reflections mailing list is NOT used for any other purpose.


UNSUBSCRIBE: If you no longer wish to receive the weekly Reflection, reply to this email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject or body of the email.