A Reflection for Friday in the Octave of Easter
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
This Gospel offers a deep, miraculous hope at the core of our faith: The resurrected Christ is present on earth and has appeared to his disciples not once or twice, but three times! But this Gospel worries me, because if the disciples cannot recognize the resurrected Christ after seeing him again and again, how likely is it that I will be able to recognize him in our world today?
I am comforted, however, by the fact that Christ, despite all the disciples’ flaws and confusion, continues to appear to them. He continues not only to make himself present but, in his endless generosity, to present the disciples with an abundance that they could never achieve on their own.
Every day we have that chance to recognize, again and again, the ways in which Christ works through those around us, often in unexpected ways.
When the disciples finally recognize Christ, they respond with enthusiasm and they share in the sustenance he offers. We, too, sometimes are unable to recognize Christ in our world. Often it is because we expect God’s presence to appear in our world in a certain way or on our own timeline. Sometimes, we see strangers, or even friends or family members, as obstacles in our path to Christ, rather than as an embodiment of his love.
The good news is that, just like he did for the disciples, Christ continues to show up for us today. Every day we have that chance to recognize, again and again, the ways in which Christ works through those around us, often in unexpected ways. It is our responsibility to pay attention, so that we will recognize this presence and respond with enthusiasm. We, too, should jump at every opportunity to greet him, and together to share in the bounty he offers.
