Christ’s Resurrection moved people both physically and psychologically. After this, some come and go to see the sepulcher. They begin their trip to conversion. The disciples are also “on their way” toward Emmaus (Luke 24, 13-35) and this profoundly changes their lives. They are searching for eternal truth. Luke’s Gospel delineates the relationship between movement and life: joy and “the heart that burns.” This is an intense experience of hearts moved by compassion maturing along the “road of life.” The Evangelist Luke notes that when the disciples stop their faces are sad. Their spiritual growth has been interrupted.
In the Acts of the Apostles, (3, 1-10), the diversely able beggar goes through the Jerusalem’s temple’s beautiful door and receives an exceptional gift: Jesus Christ the Nazarene. It is obvious that resurrection means having an intense and “vivacious” life serving others by proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing as a role model.
One of the most striking incidents showing what it means to have God within us is that of the women going to Christ’s sepulcher. They have a new message for the disciples as do those who went to Emmaus. They communicated with the resurrected Lord. So did the disciples as they joyously returned to Jerusalem to proclaim Christ’s message.
Another story by the Evangelist Luke which may seem closer to Christmas than to Easter is Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. This also shows what it means to have the gift of life within. Mary’s visit is one of the fastest in the Bible demonstrating Mary’s affection. (Luke 1, 39) Mary accepts the gift of a new life with: “Here I am.” Her words are total commitment which will materialize into concrete actions. She shows the true meaning of life in her “Magnificat” which praises the Lord’s new gift.
How can a diversely able person “walk”? The sick beggar entering the beautiful temple door has received a great gift—to be in communion with the resurrected Lord. He has benefitted physically from this. He can walk and jump. There were many physically impaired in Jerusalem at that time. Did the others have a weaker faith? Didn’t they meet the apostles at the right moment? Wasn’t salvation perceptible? These questions deal with fundamental themes about faith which have never really been resolved. At any rate, one thing is clear: everyone finds salvation in the resurrected Lord. Jesus Christ’s divine life is seen in each person’s own life. Salvation is a question of love and only through loving can a person experience it. Was the diversely able at the temple’s beautiful door really healed? Yes, if he learned to love “walking” toward others giving totally of himself.
By
Father Luciano Ruga
General Moderator
Silent Workers of the Cross
(Editorial June, 2010)
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