Popping Up Here, There and Everywhere

Write about a page on the following for your Portfolio:

• What are your reactions to the variations in the appearance stories the gospels?
• The disciples are to proclaim ‘repentance’ and ‘forgiveness’. What might this mean in daily life for individuals, churches and governments?

The variations in the appearance stories in the gospels are slightly unsettling, because while a certain amount of confusion around the passion and resurrection stories is quite understandable, the credibility of the appearance stories is vital: if Jesus really was resurrected, his appearances confirm and define that; they are a seal of authenticity and determine the way forward for Jesus’ followers. More than anywhere else, this is where the intellect desperately needs consistency: seeing is believing. At the same time, with all of the interpretation I’ve been doing as I’ve worked through Units 1 – 3 of this module, I’m more familiar and comfortable with the Gospel writers’ intentions and methods, so the differences are richer and have subtle nuances that I am now more able to appreciate. Even so, I am becoming increasingly aware that I am staking my faith more on my response to the material presented by the Gospel writers than on hard facts! I have to face and accept that I can’t battle the sceptics with “pure science”, I have to deal with the vagaries of faith, and acknowledge the extent to which I am dependent on intuition and feeling: the hope I have in things unseen. It’s very uncomfortable for a systematic and analytical thinker to be in what seems like an untenable position!

Taking all of the appearance stories together as a collective whole, they are a powerful exhortation to Jesus’ followers:

Matthew has two stories in which the passing on of the Good News gains momentum as it passes from the women to the 11, and the reader can feel the energy rising and inspiring one to go out and do likewise. Mark has two stories of disbelief, followed by a story of rebuke and commissioning and a promise; these serve to highlight the necessity of faith bringing about right action that will be affirmed by God. Luke offers two stories of catechesis and teaching that reassure us that suffering is necessary but that this shouldn’t stop Jesus’ followers from rising up and praising God in the temple (doing good and in so doing honouring God’s Law of love).

What does all of this mean in daily life for individuals, churches and governments? Well, maybe Paul Verryn would know better than I do! I think it means that individuals who stand up for what is right, should continue to do that, and be the voice in the wilderness calling churches and governments to act justly. Maybe – and it’s just maybe, mind you – these individuals could also repent of personal pride in their own righteousness and learn to show more love than anger when they do speak out. Churches could examine their operations more closely and repent of taking the easy or least painful path and be more vocal and assertive in challenging themselves and governments on the important social justice issues, and forgive the seemingly renegade members who show scant regard for the hierarchy’s political sensitivities. And governments… well, they could all just resign and let somebody with more moral fibre have the job!

On second thoughts, let’s not demand government’s resignations, let’s forgive them their failings, but keep challenging them to do the right thing, until they get the hang of doing the right thing without having to be badgered into it.

It’s the job of every Christian to daily remember and proclaim that tried-and-tested Ash Wednesday line, no matter how futile or tired it sounds: turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel! And it’s only possible to do this if we are able to forgive, and to receive forgiveness.