DISMAY

 

“We had hoped….”

We can hear the deep disappointment
in these disciples’ voices.

“We had hoped…”
In other words, they no longer did.

 

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What’s striking, however, is that these two have already heard
of the empty tomb found not only by the women,
but also confirmed by some of the disciples
(we know these to be Peter and John themselves).

And yet they’ve given up, packed up their bags,
leaving Jerusalem to go home–despite all the talk of resurrection.

Here we have two very disappointed disciples of Jesus.
Are they disenchanted or disillusioned?
It sounds like they are dismayed.

To be dismayed, like disenchantment and disillusionment,
is to be disappointed, even distressed
due to an unexpected event.
But it goes a little further:
One gets a feeling of helplessness,
an inclination to throw one’s hands up
and to give up.

Whereas we may choose to continue to keep the faith
by praying our disenchantment,
and whereas we can actually grow
as a result of our disillusionments,
dismay can be some kind of dead-end,
as evident in the two disciples journeying to Emmaus.

Because of the Risen Christ
who walked with them in their dismay,
the two disciples went for a detour
and returned to Jerusalem,
their hopes rekindled,
their faith resuscitated.

 

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