The apostles did not expect the resurrection, in spite of all that Jesus had said to them.
This is not really surprising given the culture in which they had grown up:

• Sadducees - no resurrection at all.
• Pharisees - looked to a general resurrection but only in the remote future as part of the 'age to come' when the Kingdom of God would become manifest, the tribes of Israel be restored and there would be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The disciples shared this view.

That is why they were quite slow to accept the amazing fact of Christ's resurrection to a new and wonderful life. (Contrast Lazarus) Each had to make a considerable step of faith:

• Mary Magdalene - assumed grave robbers had stolen the body - later she would believe when she met Jesus and he called her by name: 'Mary'.
• Peter - ran to the tomb to confirm the facts, saw the grave clothes left in the tomb, but did not at that point come to faith.
• John - gave precedence to Peter, but when he saw the grave clothes he knew it could not have been the work of robbers and "He saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of Scripture that he must rise from the dead."

Mere facts are not enough to lead to faith. It is love that leads to faith (John was the beloved disciple.)

The same is true today. People can be blind to the truth for many years - fail to notice or be moved by what are really encounters with the Lord. It is love that softens hearts and that is why showing the love of God in practical ways to others is the first and vital step in helping them to come to faith.

Once the apostles experienced the risen Jesus - they realized that the 'Age to come' had indeed already arrived. This was the turning point of history. They spoke of Christian life as a 'new creation'.

Baptism was seen as the entry into a new kind of existence but one which was still to be led in the midst of ordinary life with all its negative side of anger, lust, greed, deception and so on. These are some of the trials through which we triumph through the power of God. These are the things which we must address not with violence or returning evil for evil, but with the healing power of God.

+ Bishop Ambrose Griffiths
Diocese of Hexam & New Castle, UK

REFLECTION

1. How, when, where do I experience the risen Christ in the midst of my ordinary life?
2. How does the mystery of Christ's passion, death and resurrection shape and challenge my faith?