To Encounter the Risen Lord

Second Sunday of Easter

April 12, 2015

John 20:19-31

“The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord (Jn 20:20).”

 

Why did the risen Lord only appear to the selected few disciples? Why not to the Roman authorities and Jewish leaders? Why not to the entire world? His public appearance might have removed all doubt on His resurrection, yet it was not the case. Why?

His presence among the disciples was not only to prove His almighty power, but for something much more meaningful. We need to remember that this small band of followers at the Upper room consisted of Jesus’ close friends who shared personal stories with Him. They had been called and chosen. They had listened to His ground-breaking teachings. They had witnessed His miracles. They were convinced that Jesus was the expected Messiah. Yet, Jesus was arrested, subject to public mockery and finally brutally killed. They betrayed Him, denied Him, and ran away from Him. Their expectations were shattered, their company was disbanded and their stories ended in painful tragedy. Things were falling apart and worse, they lost meaning of their lives.

In this sad and traumatic backdrop, Jesus appeared. He was there to give peace of the Holy Spirit that dispelled all fear. Jesus healed their brokenness and taught them also to heal others through the power of forgiveness. He presented His glorious body which still bore crucifixion wounds. Yet, these wounds were no longer seen as marks of violence and defeat, but signs of love and victory. He showed them how it was to love truly and radically, how laying one’s life for his friends could bring true happiness. When everything seemed lost and absurd, Jesus came to shed light. Their broken and incomplete stories began making sense and whole. He revealed that He is the meaning of the entire drama of redemption, and when disciples saw this, things fall into their places. Borrowing the words of Emily Brontë, “If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.”

Our lives are like the disciples’. At times, we are facing absurdity. We lose our family members, our friends are gravely ill, or we are choked with growing financial problems. Sometimes, our going to the Church becomes tasteless, our marriage life is rocked with problems, and our works are fruitless. These can be very depressing and we do not know what to do.

The real problem is that we are like Thomas: we just focus on the wounds of Christ. But, as Jesus invited Thomas, He also asked us to look at His entire glorious body. The wounds will not make any sense without the totality of the risen Lord. We are asked to expand our attention from these troubles to Christ. Often, we are too absorbed with our issues, and overlooking the little resurrections that take place around us.  Easter is basically about the encounter with the Risen Lord and we know our lives find its fullest meaning in Him. Echoing the message of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of Manila, we are not only Good Friday people, but we are Easter people!

Brother Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP