The psalmist in Psalm 43:5 says: “Why are you so downcast, my soul, why so troubled within me? Hope in God; for I will praise him again, my saviour and my God”.
By Fr. Emmanuel Attah, C.S.Sp
The Sacred Scripture in the gospel of Luke 24:13-35 presents the episode of the two disciples who embarked on a spiritual journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus. However, blinded by so many unanswered questions which touched their faith in the Lord Jesus, they remained downcast, frustrated and dejected. Therefore, in this psychologically unorganized state, even when the master-Jesus Christ came journeying with them, they were blinded by their preoccupations from recognizing him. The fate of these disciples could equally be ours in the present global covid-19 pandemic that is ravaging the world. In the face of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and lack, most people remain downcast, worried and troubled. We are thrown into a state of despair and uncertainty.
We are asking: when will this pandemic outbreak become history? When will hunger, starvation, poverty and malnutrition become history in a nation that has been so blessed with enormous resources? When shall we have a leadership that listens to the yearnings and the aspirations of the poor masses? When shall we have leaders that are responsible and accountable? When shall stealing and looting of public treasury become a “thing of the past”? These questions and so many other negative questions arising from our individual and collective ‘facticity’ or ‘thrownness’ stare us in the face, leading us to the psychological state of becoming ‘downcast’. However, the good news is that at the end of the tunnel, there is always a glimmer of light! Just as the Lord Jesus was with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus to enlighten them and restore their faith, he is also present in our moments of despair, frustration and anxiety. In our troubles and difficult moments, the Lord never abandons us.
His words of assurance to always be beside us are: “…I am with you always, evento the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20). And in the book of Lamentation, 3:22-23, He equally assures us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is his faithfulness”. Just as the two disciples recognized that actually, Jesus Christ was present even in their brokenness, may we equally experience the light, the joy and true happiness and peace that only Jesus Christ himself offers us. May we grow spiritually above the psychological state of remaining downcast. This is possible if we remain firmly attached to the Lord Jesus Christ through sincere prayers and adoration before him. He tells us in the gospel of Saint John 15:5: “I am the vine and you are the branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing”.
• Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Attah is a missionary priest of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers, province of Nigeria, NorthWest (WhatAspp line: +234 8154071695).
