Empowered to Empower!

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Acts 3:1-10; Lk 24:13-35

Today’s Gospel highlights the reason behind the presence and absence of Jesus, with the two disciples walking toward Emmaus.  

When Jesus joins the two, he asks them two questions. The first has to do with the ‘manner’ in which the happenings took place, and the second is concerned with the ‘things’ as such. 

In short, Jesus asks them, ‘What manner?’ and ‘What things?’

Jesus made himself present when they were in confusion. 

When their minds are dull and hearts slow to understand the happenings, Jesus enlightens them by opening the Scriptures to them, so that they felt their hearts were burning within them. 

However, what Jesus does when their eyes are opened is fascinating. 

When they now recognize Jesus, he vanishes from their sight. 

How to make sense of this intriguing behaviour of Jesus, who accompanies them when their vision is blurred but when they recognize him, he vanishes from their sight?

Simply put, when the purpose is served, Jesus moves on. 

In other words, Jesus has no work with those enlightened already. 

Rather, it is now the turn of the enlightened to be busy acting upon the enlightenment they received from Jesus. 

It is as if Jesus is asking, ‘Why do you crawl around if you can fly?’

To be a missionary is to reach out and proclaim.

The two disciples do that precisely. They set out at once to share the Good News with other disciples.

We are empowered by Jesus to empower others. How far are we cognizant of the truth? 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar