JESUS, OUR LIVING LORD

The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

In such understated, matter of fact tones, St. John describes the first appearance of the Risen Lord to his assembled apostles. It is almost as if this were the most natural thing in the world, when the reality is that it is the most supernatural thing in the world.

Jesus is alive! Some 36 hours after being taken dead from the cross, Jesus appears to the apostles alive. From his first appearance to Mary Magdalene until his final appearance 40 days later on the Mount of Olives at the time of his ascension, the Risen Lord kept on appearing to his friends. Not once, you will note did he appear to his enemies, only to his friends. What a wonderful way to encourage them and to crystallize their understanding that the scriptures had been fulfilled. Time after time he proved that the evil of the crucifixion had been conquered by his glorious resurrection.

But it goes far beyond that, doesn’t it? The Gospel is truly the monstrance through which Jesus Christ is held up before us and revealed to us in all his glory. It is in that monstrance that we may first see that same Jesus Christ living today for each and every one of us. Can anyone imagine that after His terrible death and glorious resurrection Jesus would be anything but alive today?

Some say that believing in the Resurrection is a matter of faith and for sure, any doubt that Jesus rose again casts doubt on the whole of the Bible and destroys the very foundation of Christianity. Believing may be a matter of faith, but to me it is more a matter of simple and rather obvious logic and common sense.

Jesus is alive! While this is a statement of fact, it is not a ho-hum, matter of fact kind of statement. It is the constant, dynamic reality of our lives as Christians. It should make us leap with joy and dance and sing. Many of us are too reserved to do that, of course or are prevented from doing so by gammy backs or wonky knees. But when we feel the urge we can at least crack a smile.

We cannot afford to be ambivalent about the Resurrection, because it is Christ’s victory over death which gives our lives meaning and hope. In him we live and move and have our very being. If we are wishy washy about the fact and all the implications of the Resurrection, we will never experience the excitement of catching fire for Christ and the light of Christ will never shine through us into the lives of others. Our lives will be pale, tragic shadows of what they should be and of what God the Father wants them to be.

How blessed we are in this; the Christian has the friendship and love of a living God. The Old Testament abounds with the story of God showing His chosen people that their God, our God, is a living God. The New Testament proves and consummates that for all of us.

It is because Jesus lives that Christianity lives; it is because Jesus lives that his bride, the Church lives and is ultimately invincible. The gates of hell, Jesus said, shall not prevail against it. Mt 16:18. He lives and will make sure that that promise is kept. Let us remember that when we are inclined to despair about the Church, perhaps as we may have special cause to be in the aftermath of Pope John Paul’s passing.

Now there is really nothing so thrilling as the knowledge that Jesus lives. But it is the quality of that knowledge which will determine how the light of Christ shines through us. It is not enough to think that we believe, or even to believe that we believe. We have to go way beyond such superficial positions and receive Christ into our hearts. That is the Grace for which we should pray without ceasing.

St. John wrote, he came unto his own and his own received him not. There is the key. When we really believe in Jesus Christ, we receive a living person, and that is a far cry from accepting and believing in some doctrine. Jesus is not some abstract concept – he is a living reality.

To be saved we have to believe on him and receive him. After all, the devil believes in Jesus, but the devil is not saved.

It is the receiving of the living Lord into his heart which distinguishes the true Christian from all others. Look again at the story of St. Stephen’s martyrdom and you will see the truth of that.

Faced with the implacable hatred of his accusers, and the atmosphere of escalating violence, Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.

Stephen was taken from the city and stoned. Non Christians often face their deaths with stoicism and courage. Stephen was a Christian and his reaction was very different. He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.

It is unthinkable that anyone could die like that for some lifeless God, some graven image. Lay not this sin to their charge is an appeal to a real, living God.

Only a living God can say to his ordained, whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained.

The Gospel is the monstrance through which Jesus is held up before us. So much of what is recorded for us about his earthly life points to his resurrection.

Jesus said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead yet shall he live.

And to Thomas, he said, I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6. The gospel is true for all of us for all time. Such statements can only have meaning for us if the one who utters them is alive.

I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. John 14:18.

Come unto me all that labour and are heavy laden and I will refresh you.

If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.

These are not the promises of someone whose end is a cold tomb.

Jesus is alive! Believe that with every atom of your being. Absorb it into the fabric of your heart and soul. Live it every minute of every day and show it like a beacon to the world around you.

Jesus is alive! Our Saviour, our King, our love, our light, our truth, our friend.

Our Resurrection.

Easter 1, 2005.

Peter Jardine+