Page 20 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

EDUCATION AND FORMATION

in wonder, Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever never gives us burdens we are unable to carry, and he helps us to
did; I wonder if he is the Christ? (Jn 4:29). Twenty-five years ago, carry them anyway.
at the Easter Vigil, I heard that word again when it resonated At the Triduum, our faith is challenged by Good Friday and
more than all the other words I heard that night and has echoed reaffirmed by the angel’s words to the holy women at the empty
in my heart down the years: Oh, come to tomb: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he
the water all you who are thirsty; though said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go
you have no money, come! (Is 55:1) What quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen
an invitation! An invitation to baptism, The Lord, however, does from the dead, and behold, he is going before
an invitation to come home, an invitation tend to lead us gently and you to Galilee; there you will see him” (Mt 28:6).
to eternal life in the Lord. I stepped over a tugs harder only when May we never become blasé at that moment but
border that night, over a threshold into the he thinks we’re ready for rejoice in the Resurrection each time!
home of God’s Church. Little did I know further challenges. More challenging again are the words we
what challenges awaited me on the other hear at the end of the liturgical year, from St
side of that doorway! Matthew’s Gospel about the end of time. Those
“Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, ‘What words really call us to an examination of conscience; have we
are you seeking?’ And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means made an adequate response to the Lord’s call to acts of mercy?
Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and Will we stand to the right of the King and be worthy to hear his
you will see.’” (John 1:39) I was able to accept that invitation word addressed to us: “Come, you whom my Father has blessed,
with relish and found great enjoyment in getting to know Jesus take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the
even better – a lifetime task. And, like Philip to Nathanael, I was foundation of the world” (25:24). The Lord gives us this chance
privileged to call to others to Come and see, in the RCIA sessions each time to respond to his call. And only the Father knows
I led for several years. Even more challenging is Jesus’s call to when this moment will arrive, so we’d better be prepared!
the rich young man: “There is one thing you lack. Go and sell Hopefully, at the end of time, we who have been baptized
everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you into Christ Jesus will truly take this word into our hearts, having
will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mk 10:21). come full circle: “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let
Detaching oneself from earthly attachments is definitely more the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come;
difficult and probably carries on after this life, until we are truly let the one who desires take the water of life without price… Amen,
perfected, as Matthew puts it in his Gospel. The Lord, however, come, Lord Jesus” (Apoc. 22:17, 20).
does tend to lead us gently and tugs harder only when he thinks
we’re ready for further challenges. And, as St Paul assures us, he

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