The stories we hear of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances show us what mercy truly is
After spending a significant amount of time during Lent preparing for Easter, we now take an even longer amount of time to celebrate the resurrection and the mercy of God and its consequences during this special season.
Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we have prepared a more empty tomb of our hearts to experience a deeper encounter with the resurrected Jesus. We hope to experience it, not just as a historic event, but as something that we participate in and benefit from today. The second Sunday of the Easter season has us reflecting in a special way on God’s gift of mercy. Jesus’ appearances to people after His resurrection give us a good look at what mercy is.
Jesus was betrayed by some of His best friends. Mercy was, and is, more powerful than betrayal. Some of His friends gave up hope when they saw Him die on the cross, returning to their ordinary living, not living out of the belief of what Jesus taught them. Mercy is more powerful than that. Some of His friends couldn’t let go of the deep sorrow that they experienced at watching Him suffer and die. His mercy was able to make its way through that sorrow.
When the disciples were on the road to Emmaus, Jesus joined them. He did not greet them with judgment or revenge, nor did He exert punishment or pain. He asked them what they were doing and patiently listened to the story that He Himself had lived. Gradually, in a very merciful way, He spoke the Scriptures to them and broke bread at table with them. Mercy broke through their disillusionment and changed the direction of their lives.
When Peter and the others were fishing, Jesus called them to shore and shared some food with them. He called Peter aside and His mercy broke through Peter’s shame, embarrassment, pride and guilt. “You know that I love you” is the only response that Peter could give to Jesus. Jesus mercifully received his commitment of love and restored whatever was broken in that relationship.
When Mary Magdalene was walking in the garden, crying because her friend had been crucified and the body was missing, she found it difficult to recognize Jesus through the tears and the sadness. Jesus knew what would break through her temporary blindness. He spoke her name and she recognized His love and mercy.
During this Easter season, the same experience is available to us. Jesus wishes to meet us, in a very real way, in our own guilt, disillusionment, shame, disbelief and anger. Jesus wishes to speak our name, so we should take some quiet time to speak the name of Jesus and to let Jesus speak your name in the quiet of your heart. He wishes to walk with us on whatever road we’re on. Let Him speak His word and break bread with you at the table of the altar.
There’s only one force greater than the mercy of God, and Jesus told us all about it. It has to do with self-righteousness. Jesus said during His time, as well as now that the only people that He couldn’t help were the self-righteous, those who believe that they are better than others, who spend time judging others as less than themselves and those who see the splinter in others’ eyes while they can’t see the beam in their own. If we are that kind of person, we need to begin by confessing our self-righteousness. That is the beginning of the possibility of receiving the mercy that Jesus has to offer us.
Enjoy this Easter season and all the wonder and glory of the consequences that Jesus has been raised from the dead and now lives with us today.
