April 21, 2015
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
APRIL 18/19 2015
When something important and significant happens to us we find ourselves telling and retelling the story to those closest to us. The deeper the impact on us, the more we tell it and the greater detail we get into. We have an important need to share – that’s called processing the event. That helps us to move through the initial shock and to really believe that it has happened.
Today’s gospel reading takes place immediately after the story of the apostles on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus came to them as they were telling and retelling the story of His death and Resurrection on their way. They have just returned to the upper room where the other disciples have gathered and they are once again retelling what happened to them . And suddenly Jesus enters the room. As much as they have been witnessing and hearing about His post resurrection appearances, Luke tells us that they were “startled and terrified” when Jesus came.They are still in shock and trying to process all that has happened.
Ever since Easter Sunday, our scripture readings have also been retelling the story over and over again. Because even thousands of years later, we are still trying to absorb the impact of the Resurrection. Jesus’ rising from the dead is the culmination and the fulfillment of the entire history of salvation. From the time of Adam and Eve God had been promising to send a savior and the Jewish people of old waited from one generation to the next. No one expected that Savior to rise from the dead – not even the disciples who were so close to Jesus. Is it any wonder that we who are so far removed chronologically, need time to absorb it all?
And so once again this year, we tell and retell the story. We hear all the details again and we absorb the mystery a little more each time. Jesus Christ is Risen from the dead and death is no longer the end of the story. God has written a whole new chapter and that chapter is eternal life.