Recognizing Jesus
Why couldn’t Jesus’ followers recognize him after his resurrection? Jesus had said that he would rise again and yet their rational minds had told them that death was final. They were shocked and surprised to see him. This could not be Jesus. But something happened that opened their senses to the realization that it was Jesus. For Mary Magdalene it was the sound of his voice. For Doubting Thomas it was in the touching of Jesus wounds. By the Sea of Galilee the disciples recognized him in the miraculous catch of fish, and on the road to Emmaus it was in the breaking of the bread. Jesus comes to us in much the same ways. We hear his voice calling to us through scripture. We experience the risen Christ when we reach out to share in the sorrow and woundedness of one another, and when we “cast our nets” there is fullness of life. We recognize Jesus in the sharing of the bread and wine. Death is the gateway into a more abundant life in the spirit. And how do we know? Because Jesus has shown us the way.
lhart@gwi.net
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