Buechner: Surprise visits
“Jesus is apt to come, into the very midst of life at its most real and inescapable. Not in a blaze of unearthly light, not in the midst of a sermon, not in the throes of some kind of religious daydream, but … at supper time, or walking along a road. This is the element that all the stories about Christ's return to life have in common.. He never approached from on high, but always in the midst, in the midst of people, in the midst of real life and the questions that real life asks.”
—Frederick Buechner, originally published in The Magnificent Defeat.
Buechner is describing how we see Jesus in our lives, in our actual lives. We do not need to go on some great pilgrimage or be in an ancient cathedral. God is all around us in our everydayness. Our ministry as spiritual friends is helping each other see God in our everyday lives.
These resurrection stories give us many clues about where and how to find Jesus.
Jesus’s resurrection appearance is a surprise to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Mary at the tomb, to the disciples locked in the upper room, to the disciples fishing. It is off of the agenda.
Jesus is usually not immediately recognized.
Jesus does ordinary things like cooking and eating and walking.
Jesus looks like an ordinary person but may do extraordinary things like walking through walls.
Jesus still bears his wounds, but they are healed.
Jesus feeds us.
Jesus calls us by name.
Jesus appears to ordinary people.
Except for Jesus’ appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus, Jesus appears to those who know him.
Most importantly, Jesus speaks truth and love and peace.
If you want to know more about resurrection, meditate on these stories.
Joanna joannaseibert.com