Finding God in All Things
“With that their eyes were opened…he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” - Lk 24:31, 35
This past Lent, I committed to praying more and developing my relationship with God. Part of that goal was to pay close attention to my feelings as I did my daily Examens and novenas. During that time, I was also reminded of a grace from my Ecclesiology class last quarter, where I was asked to analyze the ecclesiology of communion.
I came to the idea that the ecclesiology of communion is our sharing in the actions, feelings, suffering and renewal of Jesus being raised from the dead. Like the disciples, we share in the suffering of Jesus’ death on the cross as we remember our crosses in life. In every moment of our lives, we’re invited not to forget that Jesus understands us and our suffering as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, and as he loves and humbles himself for us as he washes the feet of his disciples. Like in today's Gospel, our encounter with the Lord and his accompaniment of us in those ways help open our hearts to see, love, and serve him in others.
I’ve experienced this authentic and unconditional love from Fr. Joe Kraemer, SJ, other wonderful Jesuits, and the Christus Ministries team, whom I’ve had the privilege of being with when they taught me in classes, or accompanied me on retreats or in other settings. Most recently, I had the honor of washing my own professor’s feet at the Holy Thursday Mass at Santa Clara Mission Church. This experience taught me humility and gave me an image of the servant's heart.
Jesus pours out his love in both the washing of the feet and the breaking of the bread, where we see and encounter Jesus uniquely. We might not realize it, but in every act of love and service is the presence of him walking with us among those we know and love. This Easter season, let us rejoice that he is risen and lives in our hearts and in all things!
How are we invited as sons and daughters of God to share in the “breaking of the bread” with Jesus?
Sue Do