Real and spectacular

Sometimes some of us visualize the resurrection of Christ like a movie.

To be sure, there are elements in some of the resurrection accounts that would make spectacular cinema (e.g., Matthew 28:2-3).

And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.

Coming soon… to an eternity near you.

One might even imagine today’s Gospel (Luke 24:35-48) as if it were a science fiction movie, with Jesus materializing in a ray of sparkling light.

But the actual appearances of the risen Christ as depicted in the Gospel text are far from Hollywood spectaculars: he is suddenly and simply there.

Indeed, one of the most important things that happens in today’s Gospel is Jesus quietly eating a bit of fish.

Don’t get me wrong: the reality of Christ’s resurrection is more amazing and earth-shattering than every Hollywood blockbuster put together.

Yet when the risen Lord of glory appears, his appearance and activities are very ordinary: just another guy walking down the road, as on the road to Emmaus in yesterday’s Gospel, or just a guy eating some fish, in today’s Gospel.

This reminds us, as we continue through this first week of Easter, that the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead is not something totally detached from the world of our everyday experience.

St. Paul put it this way (Romans 10:8b-9):

"The word is near you,
in your mouth
and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we preach),
for, if you confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.


And so, as we continue with the ordinary activities of our lives - as we walk down the street, talk with our friends, or just have something to eat – that these simple things were also done by the risen Lord.

He dwells in eternal light beyond space and time, yet he is not detached from us and the ordinary things of our day. He is real and beyond spectacular.

We should remember this and live accordingly, so that by his grace we may walk more closely in his footsteps in this world and rejoice with him forever at the banquet of heaven.