TEACHING

Behold the Risen Christ

The New Testament gives us about eight accounts of Jesus appearing to people following his resurrection. First to Mary Magdalene in the garden; then to a group of women as they left the empty tomb; to Cleopas and his wife on the Emmaus Road on Easter afternoon; to ten disciples in the upper room on Easter evening; to Thomas a week later; to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee; to all of the disciples on a mountain in Galilee; and finally, as to one untimely born, to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. What all of these appearances have in common is that they all contain an element of surprise. They were confronted with what for them was an entirely new reality, far beyond the limits of their experience. Much as the reality of the event overwhelmed them and impelled them to bear witness, it was still utterly unlike anything they had previously known. The same is true for us today. Resurrection is so great a mystery that it can overpower us with awe, wonder, and its sheer magnitude. We need to take time to contemplate, meditate, and behold the deep meaning and mystery of the resurrection. As Father Richard Rohr says, “Mystery is not something you can’t know. Mystery is endless knowability.” In this Eastertide teaching series, we invite you to explore the endless depths of Christ and the power of his resurrection.