2.1 Commitment
STAGE 2: Awareness of Self
MY EMOTIONS
FUELLING ENERGY
COMMITMENT
Aim: To understand and commit ourselves to the good intention and mission hidden in our emotions.
Readings
Jesus’ weeping at the sight of Jerusalem (Lk 19:41): As he came near and saw the city, Jesus wept over it.
Jesus’ weeping over Lazarus’ death (Jn 11:33-36): When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see”. Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
Jesus’ agony (Mk 14:34-36): When they reached a place called Gethsemane […] Jesus said to his disciples, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake”. And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want”.
A sinful woman bathing Jesus’ feet (Lk 7:36-38): One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.
Comment
At this point we need to ask ourselves: what are we doing with our emotions? Emotions are not blockages but energies geared towards action. It is up to us to discern the difference they intend to bring to our life and the life of others.
The distress of Jesus at seeing how Jerusalem is living in falsehood, energises his determination to enter the city and to bring to completion his mission.
His weeping over the death of Lazarus is not mere sympathy, but a manifestation of love and gratitude to a family that has deeply touched his life.
His “grieving even to death” in the garden of Gethsemane is not pleading for deliverance, but a reiteration of his commitment to “love his own to the end” (Jn 13:1).
His anger at the people buying and selling in the temple aims at pursuing spiritual justice.
And the woman bathing Jesus’ feet with her tears is not just putting up an emotional show, but revealing to the world what she is really best at, love.
We can be grateful for our emotions because they help us to wake up and move into action. Hence anger can lead us to action in pursuit of justice. Shame can protect our personal dignity. Guilt can support our sense of personal integrity. Loneliness can be an ally in our search for intimacy. Fear can be a component of mature courage. Grief can move us with genuine hope toward a future full of promise. Depression can prepare us for mature changes in life.
Personal Reflection and Sharing
I call to my awareness the emotions that recur more frequently in my present life. In the light of the experiences shared above:
(1) How do I articulate the good intention hidden in my emotions?
(2) What mission or transformative action do I commit myself to through the energy of my emotions?
[2-1] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER