Joanna Thurmann 2011

 

Reflection on Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Joanna Thurmann| 03-08-11 (Mother’s Day)

 

Thank you, Fr Jon. I am excited to be able to share my Tijuana experiences today. You’ll figure out within 30 seconds that I am not a professional speaker. And I’m not a professional contractor, but this is our weekend to kick-off & promote the Tijuana Ministry, so I wanted to fit in.

 

This is one of my favorite scripture readings for several reasons. But one of the reasons is embarrassingly funny. My husband will testify that I have a peculiar issue with facial recognition. Most people have trouble remembering names. Me, too. But I also have trouble recognizing people’s faces even if I have known them for years. If they change their hair style or color, put on glasses, or if I see them in a different context or setting, I’m like a deer in headlights. But once they tell me who they are, then it all comes back to me. I do remember the details of their story. So anyway, because of this little handicap, I can really relate to these 2 disciples who couldn’t recognize Christ. I wouldn’t stand a chance. But now that you know my little embarrassing secret, please forgive me in advance if it happens to you J.

 

But spiritually speaking…. most of us have trouble recognizing the face of Christ. That’s because he often changes his hair style, his color, his gender, age, occupation, ethnicity, sexual orientation and social status.  It’s only when we hear his story that our eyes are opened and we recognize Him or Her. Maybe to some extent, we all could benefit from some improvement in our spiritual recognition.

 

If Christ could be anyone, then we must be willing to be of service to anyone, to welcome anyone, to love anyone. But one way that we quickly recognize Christ’s presence is through our emotions. Just like the disciples whose ‘hearts were burning within them’, we also feel Christ’s powerful presence in key moments and experiences of our lives. Mothers especially know the ‘gift of tears’ – it’s that overwhelming desire to cry when we are extremely happy or sad, at weddings, births, deaths, our children’s first steps, first words or their recitals and sporting events. We even cry at touching movies (also known as ‘chick flicks’ J). I am especially moved to tears whenever I see my children being exceptionally caring and giving to others. We cry when we are touched by deep emotions of empathy, gratitude, love, forgiveness, compassion. Christ is revealed to us through them.

 

And he’s revealed in unexpected ways and in unexpected places – oftentimes outside of the traditional place of worship. Just like on the road to Emmaus, we can meet him standing in line at Nob Hill, or painting a wall in Tijuana. We can learn from ‘Christ’ through everyone we meet.

 

Emmaus is also about sharing. Strangers become friends and family through the simple act of sharing – sharing our stories, or sharing a meal. This is how the disciples recognized the ‘stranger’ as their beloved Jesus. In the same way, the strangers who go to Tijuana with us come back as close friends. And more importantly, the strangers who live there, become our extended family. Through sharing, we begin to see our interconnectivity in the web of human relationships.

 

And speaking of family… today is Mother’s Day. As mothers, we feel a powerful connection to the mothers in the Tijuana program – all of whom want the best for their own kids just like we want for ours, a safe home, an education, a chance for a good future. Even if we don’t speak Spanish, the universal language of a mother’s love is transcendent.

 

Think of our blessed mother – Mary, Jesus’ mother – her love, her pain, her sacrifice…  Well, we see her face, everywhere in Tijuana, too.

 

 

If I could paint a mental collage of all the mothers I have met there over the years, it would be a portrait of love, courage, strength and determination. It would include Yolanda, who was working nights in a US factory for about $12/day while taking care of her 4 young children in the daytime. She slept little and worked tirelessly to take care of her family. Then there was a single mother who lived with her 5 young children in an abandoned boxcar. She came to cook meals for us while we stayed in Tijuana last year to earn a little wage. And Bertha, who dug a huge trench all by herself prior to our arrival so we could put in her septic tank. She and her children helped all day to clean, carry and fetch materials. Or Lavida, the widow with breast cancer. And Betty, who brought us refreshments and a delicious homecooked meal of Chile Relleno for all the workers last day of our build, even though their family’s daily earnings were only $10/day.

 

And we, the women who go to Tijuana, become the surrogates of the children we meet there. Mother’s of children like 5-year-old Guadalupe got her miraculous ‘pink room’ when a single can of pink paint showed up on the last day. She and her 3 siblings will have a safe home to live because their father has Huntington’s disease and is unable to work.

 

Back home, we have mothers among us today. All of you know the love, pain and sacrifice of Mary. My own mom is panicking right now, she’s sitting right there and she hasn’t heard this speech yet.  Well, my mom is the modern embodiment of St Theresa of Lisieux and her name happens to be Teresa, too. She taught me the gift of love and service to others through ‘the little ways’ just like St Theresa who put holiness of life within the reach of ordinary people. St Therese wrote in her book “Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love if great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.” My mom’s little ways are always through generous hospitality, food, shelter… gifts and service to everyone, and esp. those less fortunate. That will always be what I remember most about her. Her little ways of being Christ are countless.

 

Going to Tijuana can be a great deed or a little deed – depending on your perspective. But even if you didn’t go, there are thousands of other little ways to get involved in the TJ mission or in any other social justice or outreach program. And today, even eating chocolate can be beneficial. Outside of mass today, you can buy free trade chocolate. You can learn what Free Trade means, why we should care and how your donations help that cause. It’s just another ‘little way’ to make great change possible. Mom – you will be getting some chocolate today.

 

And I am a mother, too. So when my own 2 kids grow up, I hope they’ll remember what I tried to teach them (and no, it’s not just “eat your vegetables” or “don’t hit your sister in church.”). What I hope they’ll say is that I taught them compassion. Compassion means ‘wearing someone else’s shoes’ – literally or emotionally.  If we can feel empathy for each other, we can feel love. Love paves our way to action. Compassion moves us to act for the people of Tijuana – through prayer, donations or service.

 

Having seen and experienced Christ, the Tijuana missionaries, just like the disciples, feel compelled to come back and share the good news that Jesus is Alive. That’s what all of us are doing today. And that’s what gives the TJ ministry its wind beneath the wings. We tell others; we show them our burning hearts.

 

Our faith grows gradually; we can hasten it through action. Jesus told the disciples “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe.” The more we “LIVE” our faith, the stronger that faith becomes. It’s the equivalent of saying ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’ or else ‘if faith is not working for you, it may be because you are not working it’. Putting faith in action is the best way to live faith.

 

Emmaus also shows us that we are ‘closer’ to our destination than we think. The distance from Emmaus to Jerusalem was 7 miles. Did you know that the Tijuana mission where we go is only 12 miles from the US border? We don’t need to go far outside our comfort zone to follow the path of discipleship. It begins just outside the front door, with a first step. It just takes saying “Here I am Lord. I come to do your will”

There are many faces I do recognize in the crowd who have said just that, and who have come with us to Tijuana in years past. I want to take the opportunity to recognize them, so could you please stand if you have gone to Tijuana in years past. Thank you.

 

But of course, the Tijuana Ministry is not just about going there. None of it would be possible (really NONE of it) without the support of all of you right here – taking each step along with us. Supporting us through fundraisers, donations, prayers and other ways. You can continue to do that by participating in our upcoming events -- the Parish Auction next Friday, the garage sale on the 21st, coffee/donut sale, carwash and even today by purchasing Free Trade chocolates.

 

So I hope the gospel story of the Road to Emmaus will inspire you to put on your walking shoes, fill up a backpack with bread and water, and hit the road. The journey itself is as worthwhile as the destination.

 

In our own spiritual journeys toward Tijuana or toward the kingdom of God, we are invited to befriend strangers, welcome them to dinner, and see the risen Christ revealed inside of them.  And don’t forget to send post cards to your mother from along the way.

 

Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)