Life can only be lived forward and understood backwards ~ Kierkegaard

 
Dear Parishioners and Friends ,
It has been said and written that  all sorrows can be borne if we can tell a story . Well we will have plenty of stories to tell when we  meet up again. There is it seems  no shortage of stories on the internet , face book and social media. Not all to be trusted. The two disciples in our Sunday gospel ( Luke 24:13-35)  have a sad story to tell. Their dream  about the message of Jesus  is reduced to rubble  their  hopes for a new world were in ruins. They couldn’t make sense of his death on the cross. in Jerusalem
 
When they are joined on the road  by  another companion . They don’t recognize their friend.The risen Jesus accompanies them on their journey . He asks gentle questions .He allows the disciples  to talk about themselves ,their dreams, their hurts.  He listens to them .In doing this he opens their minds and more importantly their hearts. Then he begins to explain the Word of God. Eventually they understand, they see . Isn’t that how it is . We live our lives forward, but understand them backwards. We don’t always understand what  is happening  to us  in a given moment we often  don’t have perspective, or understanding . We just have enough to cope from day to day, hour to hour. So many of us feel that now.  It is  only afterwards, perhaps long afterwards that we begin to understand what we have been through .
 
We don’t expect to find God in pain. We expect to find God in joy. This was the discovery of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were  walking away from their suffering . Note that Jesus joins them on the journey, walks away with them. They are not alone. Because he accompanies them they begin to see their suffering, his suffering and their disappointment in a different light  . The disciples came to understand the suffering they had been through in a new way.  Finding a meaning to our pain doesn’t remove the pain.  It can however  transform it.
 
On the road to Emmaus Jesus explains  the scriptures and reveals  himself in the breaking of bread. The same happens when we celebrate the Eucharist today.   The crucified and  risen Lord  is still with us on the journey. Take the opportunity sometime today or  this week and look back at your life. Your faith. Can you in the light of what you know now understand better what has shaped your past, made you or others  make certain decision’s. Can you see where God was ?
 
Mgr Jim
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 www.ourladyofvictories.net
 
105th  commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
You will remember that as  parish we had planned  mark the  anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a service of prayer, music and reflection. That is not now possible.
Dr Harry Hagopian was to give the reflection. In the spirt of remembering with our Armenian Sisters and Brothers  we are able to offer you some reflections on the Genocide through the links below.

1915-2020: A Few Reflections on the Armenian Genocide:
https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/1915-2020-a-few-reflections-on-the-armenian-genocide
 
The Armenian Genocide : a 12-minute video-conversation w/ scholar & author Dr Elizabeth S Kassab on the significance of such atrocities for 2020: https://youtu.be/liVSDRruxdo
 
The Armenian Genocide & COVID-19: > Arm-Wrestling with COVID-19 in London - #14:
https://youtu.be/SET-otAsQQY

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