Bairbre Cahill
I have a lot of empathy for the disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel (John 20:19-31). They are gathered together in a room with the doors closed, “for fear of the Jews”. When Jesus appears among them the disciples are filled with joy but are not overly surprised. This is not the moment when they realise Jesus has risen from the dead.
Earlier that day Mary of Magdala had visited the tomb and, finding the tomb empty, had gone to find Simon Peter and John. Peter and John hurry to the tomb and when they confirm that Jesus has indeed risen they return home, undoubtedly to tell the other disciples. Later when Mary encounters Jesus in the garden, having first mistaken him for the gardener, she goes and tells the disciples that she has seen the Lord and he has spoken to her.
So, when Jesus comes and stands amongst them they move from knowing at a head level that he is risen, to encountering him for themselves. They have remained in the locked room because head knowledge is not enough. It cannot equip them with the courage they need. It is in meeting him, gazing upon him, hearing his words that the transformation happens.
So too for us, head knowledge is not enough. Faith is not simply about a set of beliefs or rules or practices. If it is to have the power to transform our lives it has to be about encounter.
For the disciples – and John consistently refers to them here as disciples – the transformation is not simply personal. Yes, Jesus says to them ‘Peace be with you’ but he is not suggesting that they should now simply relax, secure in the knowledge that he has risen.
No, in one breath Jesus prays peace upon them and then sends them out into the world they have been hiding from, “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” So, the ones who were listeners – the core meaning of disciple – become ones who are sent out – the core meaning of apostle.
Liturgies
I love Easter. I love the liturgies of Holy Week and the power of the Easter Vigil, reminding us that we are all part of this salvation history. The Gospel story is our story. I also love the fact that I have come out the other side of Lent. I am happy to sit down with my cup of coffee, relax later perhaps with a glass of wine.
But if Easter serves only to make me feel comfortable and content then I have missed the point. I could understand it if the disciples said to Jesus: “Just give us a bit of time to enjoy the fact that you have risen. Let’s relax after all we have been through. We will go out and tell others but just let us take a bit of time out first.”
In John’s account everything happens on that “first day of the week” – a time for new beginnings. There is an urgency in Jesus’ words, rousing the disciples and sending them out to proclaim the good news.
I am speaking at the Tine Conference in Westmeath this weekend, and the theme I have been given is about how a spirituality for everyday life prepares us to go out into the world as active, committed Christians.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit in that locked room, to give them the courage to go out into the world. We receive that gift of the Spirit in baptism and confirmation and like the disciples we too are sent. We need to nurture that gift through encountering Christ – in Scripture, in the people around us, in the sacraments, in the everyday life of family and community. It is that encounter which will transform us and send us out.