The Mystery of the Church…Journey to Jerusalem

 The Catholic Faithful in Karjat were witness to the new aspirants to Christianity accept the Act of Contrition as a step towards receiving the baptism they were to receive at Easter.

After the Eucharist, Cletus led the group a journey along with Jesus along the road to Jerusalem. Starting with the journey of Jesus who stopped over at the well and began a conversation with the Samaritan woman, he led the group to realize the Journey that they were undertaking was the Journey to Jerusalem. Jerusalem symbolized the very central aspect of our faith, that is the Death and the Resurrection. The disciples on the way to Emmaus were actually moving away from Jerusalem and their eyes were closed (Luke 24:16). Their eyes were opened when Jesus who joined them on the journey discussed with the scriptures and revealed to them their foolishness. Later when they stopped over for the night, they had supper and at the table their eyes were opened (Luke 24:31). They then ran all the way back to Jerusalem to inform the community of their discovery as their hearts were burning.

 

Is our hearts burning within as we walk on the way to Jerusalem. We have probably y lost our fire because we have not actually broken bread at the table with Jesus. We have not stopped over at the well to sit with Jesus and chat with him. We  have not learnt from the example of Abraham, who learnt his lessons in life as he went through various levels of leaving and arriving, or like the woman at the well whose superficial understanding of what Jesus was offering turned to a realization that he was truly a prophet and finally to accepting him as “The Messiah”.

Am I willing to leave my land – my possessions, my concepts, my understanding and finally the very aspect of my life that is my central core to look at what Jesus is offering. “If only I can understand what Jesus is offering”. Yes only if I could understand…Take this step today. Understand what Jesus is offering as you sit by the well and be nourished at the Eucharistic table.

God Bless You!

~ Fr. Callistus Fernandes.