Times of Refreshment April 12

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you. Acts 3:15-16

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45

Piety

Jesus, come into our lives so we can share you with others we know and others we don’t know. Help us to hear in your voice the message and mission you have reserved for us in the world. Help us to see the conditions that must be changed. Help us to smell the rotting stench of injustice and taste the sweetness of Your endless mercy. Touch us so that we might touch others. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/041207.shtml

Listening and acting as instructed – often a theme of Jesus when he was preaching before the crucifixion – is echoed today in Acts by St. Peter’s deeds and St. Luke’s words.

Listen. Repent. Be converted.

Before we can be aware of Christ’s message or follow it, we must be aware of His Simple Presence. When this awareness of the Resurrected Christ crept over those who encountered Jesus, usually, they did not know how to deal with the emotions that accompanied such encounters.

So, to make it easier, Jesus provides empirical evidence – through the human senses, allowing people to see, touch and feel his wounds. Once they had evidence that this Resurrected Jesus was REAL, then they were free to react with wonder and awe.

What evidence do we need today of Jesus’ presence in the world? This week, I am back in New Orleans once again. Yesterday, in a discussion, we considered the blessings of many individuals who were showered with charity after facing devastating losses. Today, they are putting their life back together.

Empirical evidence shows that there is some progress being made in bringing the Gulf Coast back. Since my last visit in January, you can see some fewer trailers in some neighborhoods. Since January, you can see less debris littering some neighborhoods. Since January, you can see that some buildings have new roofs, new windows, and new walls.

But the road back will be a long journey. Recovery is not reaching everyone equally. Some neighborhoods are still nearly deserted. Many businesses are still boarded up. Recovery and resurrection of the city is taking more time, more work.

What else do we need to know in order to feel the real presence in the world? What more than the endless love expressed in the Eucharist…where we can taste and see the Body and Blood of the Lord. When we feel the Real Presence, we are refreshed from the fatigue we feel when surrounded by the stress and concerns of the world.

Action

How are you aware of the Real Presence of Christ in your life and the world? In Group Reunion, we discuss those “closest moments” each week. How do others bring Christ to you? How do you bring the Real Presence of Christ to others?

When you send a letter to someone who is lonely, you offer them that presence.

When you visit a friend ill and in the hospital, you offer them that presence.

When you reach out, you make the presence of Christ real to others.

How will you plan to do this today? Isn’t it time for your refreshment?