The 500

In today’s first reading (1 Cor. 15:1-8), St. Paul mentions some of the times that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared in his resurrected body. Some of these incidents are also mentioned elsewhere and some are not.

One of the most intriguing is this one:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

This is one of the strongest attestations to the reality of the resurrection of Christ: it wasn’t a hallucination, a rumor that got out of control, or a story hatched by a small band of conspirators. Such scenarios are crushed by the weight of these five hundred and more witnesses.

Moreover, St. Paul makes a point of saying that most of these 500 people were still alive. It is a bold assertion. St. Paul does not give a list of 500 names and addresses in this summary, but he confidently opens the door for follow-up by any Corinthian who might be in the least bit curious or skeptical. It would not have been that hard at that time to track down at least some of those 500.

These 500 were not the 12, they were not Apostles with a capital “A” - the foundations stones of the new city – but their lower-profile role had a special power all its own.

The expression “Successors of the Apostles” has a special meaning for many, but all of us can find special, personal meaning in recognizing ourselves as “Successors of the 500.”

We may not be the high-profile leaders with the official roles, but our role is important and powerful nonetheless. We are successors of the 500: we are the billions who believe in the risen Christ.

Nor is our strength in numbers alone. Indeed, when we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit and step forward in obedience to the will and the teaching of Christ, our power grows exponentially: power to proclaim Jesus to the world, power to win souls for Christ, power to contain within ourselves the One whom the Universe itself cannot contain.

We are the successors of the 500 and ours is a glorious task indeed.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellow citizens with the saints,
and of the household of God;
And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together
for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22