The accounts of the Resurrection appearances given us by the Gospels are varied and incomplete. There are those we do not hear about such as that mentioned by St Paul where Jesus appeared to 500 of the disciples at the same time (1 Cor. 15: 6). Although some of the details are different the evangelists are all at pains to emphasize that although the risen body is in continuity with the earthly Christ. As we hear in today's gospel his wounds are visible and he is able to eat while, at the same time, Christ is not limited physically by time or space. He is not a ghost but, at the same time, he is not merely revived as Lazarus was. This is not the end of the situation. He has a message to give and it is the same in all the gospels: the Scriptures have been fulfilled and the disciples are to be the witnesses to the resurrection throughout the world. To accomplish this task they are fortified because they do not act alone: "And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it." (Mk 16: 20)
No comments:
Post a Comment