From the Friars: Sneaky Jesus

In today’s gospel St. Luke masterfully describes one of the more memorable scenes from the resurrection accounts of Jesus. Two downtrodden disciples are leaving Jerusalem with little hope in their hearts for the future. Then Jesus draws near but unrecognized.

These two disciples have lost their faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, referring to him merely as a prophet and seem to give little credence to the empty tomb or the vision of angels. “But we had hoped that he would be the one to redeem Israel.” (Lk 24:21) Jesus does not leave them in their ignorance however; but proceeds to enlighten the foolish wayfarers by walking them through the scriptures until their hearts begin to burn, and will eventually reveal himself in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist.

Not too long ago I read Sr. Helen Prejean’s book: Dead Man Walking, an account of how God called this little nun of New Orleans to assist those on death row. In a talk of hers I recently viewed, she explained how she was rather privileged growing up in Louisiana, attending private schools and practically unaware of the plight of the poor, especially among the African Americans in her native state of Louisiana.

She would, however, one day wake up to the needs of others as a religious sister. She admitted: “And so to awaken to the gospel call to justice was a grace. I didn’t wake myself up… We can’t wake ourselves up. God wakes us up!” She refers to our Lord as “sneaky Jesus”, because the whole idea of prison ministry couldn’t have been further from her mind. It simply began when she was asked to write a letter to someone in prison. That someone was Patrick Sonnier, facing death by electrocution for the murder of a young teenage couple. She said the problem was that he wrote back! “The encounter happened through the letters.” This would begin a “pen pal” relationship which would eventually result in her becoming his spiritual director, allowing her to remain with Patrick right up to the moment of execution.

Jesus didn’t abandon Patrick; despite the horrible things he had done. He met him along the way disguised as a nun from New Orleans.

We as Catholics know truly where to find Jesus. Let us be attentive however to those moments of grace when He asks our help to sneak up on others.

— Br. Pio