Saturday in the Octave of Easter

On this seventh day of the Easter octave, we come to the first “epilogue” of Saint Mark’s Gospel, a passage that was written by another author at a later time. It is unquestionably canonical – that is, it is Gospel – but it’s not Saint Marks’original ending. Apparently some people felt that more should be said. This passage is a recap of several appearances of Jesus as discovered in all three synoptic gospels – which brings us to a puzzling conundrum:

If the resurrection of Jesus is so important, why are there so few stories about it? We’ve run out of material and, after setting aside one for Low Sunday, we’ve not even finished the octave! And why isn’t there a coherent narrative running through all these stories. I cannot answer these questions, but that won’t stop me from having an opinion! J

First, a little more about his appearances. There are two different narratives about where he appeared: in Mark and Matthew, Jesus told the women he will appear to the disciples in Galilee; in Luke and John, he appeared in Jerusalem.

Secondly, we should notice the common thread that runs through most of these visions, they did not recognize him. Invariably, after he appears to his disciples, he shows them a sign that it is truly him. It seems they never recognize him at first:

• In John, Mary of Magdala thought he was the gardener.
• And, appearing in the upper room, Jesus shows his disciples his hands and his side;
• in Luke he breaks bread;
• later that evening he invites them to touch him, look at his hands and feet, and then he eats bread and fish.
• And in Matthew, some still doubted his final appearance.

One thing we can say for sure is that Jesus has not returned from the dead to take up where he left off, as if he never died. He does not walk the dusty roads with his disciples. He does not chat with them, or reminisce about old times. These visions of his resurrection do not negate the fact that he died.  

Rather, they throw a new light on the meaning of death. We have always thought that death is the end. It is the ultimate insult to our human dignity, happiness and potential. It is an enormous waste of human wisdom; how many wise and brilliant people with marvelous memories of the past have succumbed to the idiocy of death? How much wonderful knowledge did they take to the grave with them?

Death has seemed the proof of futility for all human life. Why should we live or expect or hope if all must die? Why would married couples go to that much trouble if their life together must finally end in death and sorrow? Why do parents sacrifice for their children knowing they too will die? Wouldn’t it be better not to live or love or laugh about anything? Many people, in the face of these questions, conclude we should “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

But now we realize we were totally wrong about death. It is not the proof of futility but of meaning. It is not a sign of anger, hate or vengeance but of God’s infinite love. It is not the end of our love life but the satisfaction of everything we longed for in love. Though death might seem ugly, it adorns our human life with unspeakable beauty. 

Death has become for us proof of God’s love and authority and wisdom and mercy. This is a vision only the faithful can see. Jesus’ death and resurrection invite us to live each day as if we have died to ourselves and live in him.