Jesus said: be my witnesses

What does the resurrection of Jesus feel like? This might sound like an odd question to ask. We are used to thinking about the resurrection; of believing in the resurrection; of living by the resurrection. But we were not there when Jesus showed himself in his risen state, so we have not experienced what it felt like for the disciples.

But as we used to say at the Memorial Acclamation: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Is risen, not was risen. The resurrection of Jesus was not a singular event of the past which is no longer accessible to us. No; the resurrection of Jesus extends into the present – it is with us and for us now. So, we might rightly reflect on the experience of the resurrection for us; we might rightly ask, what does the resurrection of Jesus feel like?

As to an answer to this question, each of us will experience the risen Lord in a unique way, for each of us are unique in our biology and history; we each have a story to tell that is distinctive from one another. I want to encourage you to reflect on your story of Christ’s resurrection in your life, and to be courageous in sharing it with others.

In the meantime, what might we learn of the experience of the resurrection as shared with us by those who were there on the day it occurred? Our Gospel reading today offers some pointers worth reflecting on.

The story starts with a moment of recognition. The disciples returning from Emmaus had recognised Jesus in the ‘breaking of the bread’; that is, in the eucharistic meal they had shared with him. Recognition of Jesus, therefore, was the beginning of the experience of resurrection for them – not the recognition of a body or a face, as these disciples had been walking with him all day – but of an action that tied them to him. In the mystery of the Eucharist, these disciples recognised Christ’s presence among them.

Secondly, the resurrection involved a declaration: as Jesus came among his friends he said, peace be with you. Jesus’ risen presence was not just a thing that happened, without meaning or implication. It brought about something – the giving of peace.

Thirdly, the risen Lord was able to open the minds of the disciples to an understanding of all that had gone on before. To experience the shift from confusion and doubt to understanding and faith is a powerful thing. This was, for the disciples, a telling part of the story of the resurrection.

Finally, the experience of the resurrection of Jesus by the disciples involved the offering of forgiveness and the ongoing call to repentance. This offer and call is something all people desire; who wouldn’t want to be forgiven or what kind of person would reject the possibility of repentance?

We have in the experience of the first disciples a way for us to also feel the presence of the risen Lord as a eucharistic recognition, a peace-giving declaration, an opening of our minds; and an offering of forgiveness. To all of this, Jesus then said: be my witnesses.

So, be a witness today to the experience of Jesus’ resurrection. Share your story, and know that he who was there at the beginning, is here with us now.