To be or not to be .... spiritual people

Doing Lectio Divina today in community with next Sunday's Gospel (Lc 24: 33-49), I was struck by one phrase in particular, "… he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." 

What is at once striking is the fact that prior to their journey back to Jerusalem, the two disciples of Emmaus had met Jesus on their way, fleeing as they were, away from Jerusalem, disheartened by Jesus' death. But in such dramatic state, they are given the grace of receiving Jesus (without them knowing) whilst he explained to them the meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. Their opened eyes during the sharing of bread, later that night, saw that the one to be explaining this to them was indeed the Risen Christ himself. On their return to Jerusalem, the community of believers that welcomes these two disciples had received the same grace as them, for, it is said, Jesus opened their minds for the meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. 

I was reminded at once of a most defining movement that takes place in the Carmelite Rule. The Carmelite, meditating day and night on the Word of the Lord in his own cell, is invited to come out of his cell daily to meet his brethren in prayer in a common oratory and refectory. Prayer in a common oratory is more than understandable, but in a refectory? True, this might seem odd. But actually, you can still witness the vivid meaning of this in some old Carmelite monasteries in which at the centre of the refectory there usually used to be a depiction of the Last Supper or else Jesus' breaking of the bread with the disciples of Emmaus. The sharing in a common meal together in one refectory actually continues the eucharistic meal that brings the community together in the oratory. Quite a similar tradition is evident also in Eastern Orthodox monasteries where the refectory is also a continuation of the oratory. Like a church, the refectory is usually depicted with the icon of the Last Supper or the Eucharistic Communion at the centre,  Mary with the apostles in prayer, on the other side, and several icons of the saints on the rest of the walls. 

Anyway, with the daily passage from cell to oratory-refectory, the Carmelite undergoes the same journey to and from Jerusalem where the Risen Lord appears and explains to his beloved disciples the meaning of the Sacred Scriptures. Like the disciples of Emmaus, Carmelites, joyous or disheartened find refuge in their cell where they contemplate their life experiences in the light of the Word of God. In such a contemplation, the Risen Lord himself converses with them in holy presence. The Paraclete, sent to us by Jesus himself, hence, teaches us how to pray, opens us to the mysteries of the Word before which every mere human word ceases, and makes the soul grow in loving fulfilling silence. With such holy activity in one's own cell, each Carmelite then leaves his proper cell to join the rest of the brethren in common so as to share with them the mysteries that had been revealed to him. The Carmelite life is, therefore, always a mystgogical one insofar as it is an ever-growing intimacy with the Risen Lord. It is a mystagogical endeavour in that we are drawn ever closer to that bridal chamber wherein the Lover dwells alone. Most importantly, this mystagogical journey is taken together, as one community. The challenge facing each Carmelite, therefore, is to face up to his own spiritual journey without leaning too much on what he wants to receive from outside. Truly, it is either my poor or rich spiritual life that I fundamentally share with the community and nothing else. 

What spiritual life would we share with our brethren if we lack a responsible conscience to nourish ourselves in the slow process of entering deeper into the thicket? How else is that sweet cautery going to transform us if we seek to ease our way out of brotherly communion?

O Lord, teach us to be docile and open to your graces that we may let You be God. Give us the grace to let you attract us more to you, and protect us in the hour of our most need. Do not let us fall into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen.