April 24, 2014

The Road of Life



                  Rule of Benedict vs 20 “See how the Lord in his love shows us the road of life.”  M. Rebecca

            We have just gone through Holy Week and Easter and what better way to sum up our past 9 days journey than to repeat St Benedict’s verse:  “See how the Lord in his love shows us the road of life.”  This road of life can be interpreted in light of Holy Week as well as that of Easter – each bringing out different nuances to the One Reality.
            Two Sunday’s ago we were on the road leading to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Luke’s gospel says that they threw their garments on the colt and set Jesus upon it.  “And as He rode along, they spread their garments on the road”. (Lk 19:35-6)  This road led to Jerusalem.  This road led to his crucifixion.  And yet this is the road of life that Jesus shows us in His love?  This road of suffering is one we must all take…and it reveals to us how the Lord loves us.  It is the road of life.  It is the road of love.  As the people walked beside him on the road singing Hosannas, it gave them great joy but they did not fully understand why.  Then He took the road to Golgotha and the people wept, but again, they did not fully understand why.
            It was not until Jesus walked along the road to Emmaus that the Lord’s love became clear.  This is when we understood… following Christ is the road to eternal life.  This is when we fully knew why…because God’s love is immeasurable, always present.  The disciples along the way said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Lk 24:32)  
            So we see that the Scriptures and lectio lead us along the road of life and love, as well as breaking bread together and recognizing God’s presence, walking with other disciples along the path, and taking up our cross to follow in Christ’s footsteps.  These are all part of that road of life, of suffering, of love.   It reminds me of the words of a strong and faithful woman of the Old Testament who walked along this road of life.  She said: 

“Wherever you go, I shall go,
Wherever you live, I shall live…
Where you die, I shall die…
{Nothing} shall part me from you.”
(Ruth 1:16-17)

            Perhaps it isn’t so important which road we choose as it is that Christ travels the road with us – recognizing His presence along the way.   Today as we do our daily work let us strive to recognize Christ’s Presence among us, to let our hearts burn within us, to take up any little crosses we are asked to bear, and to sing Hosanna’s along the way!

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