After Jesus rises from the dead, He appears to more than 500 men and women. He remains on earth for 40 days before returning to the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

The first person to see the Risen Jesus is Mary Magdalene. She arrives at His tomb early on Sunday morning, after the Sabbath has ended; and to her surprise and dismay finds the stone removed and the tomb empty. She runs to get Peter and John; and together they return to the tomb.

Peter and John enter the tomb, find Jesus’ burial cloths, and immediately believe. But Mary Magdalene remains outside the tomb, crying. After Peter and John leave, Mary turns around and sees Jesus standing there. At first, she mistakes Him for a gardener. But when Jesus speaks, Mary immediately recognizes His voice and embraces Him! (John 20: 1-18) As John writes earlier in his Gospel, the Good Shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name; and His sheep know His gentle voice. (John 10: 1-5)

Mary holds on to Jesus so tightly that He has to tell her to let go of Him! We can all imagine not wanting to let go of Jesus.

Another account of the Risen Jesus appearing to His disciples is recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Two disciples are making their way to a village called Emmaus, which lies about seven miles outside of Jerusalem. The Gospel identifies only one of the disciples — Cleopas, or Clopas, the younger brother of St. Joseph. Some scholars surmise that the other disciple is Mary, the wife of Clopas. Among other things, this explains why “Mary, the wife of Clopas,” was standing by Jesus’ own Mother Mary, at the foot of the cross. She was trying to comfort her sister-in-law. (John 19: 25)

As the two walk, they are discussing everything that has happened – the trial of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His purported resurrection. Suddenly, Jesus shows up alongside them:

“That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all that happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

“And He [Jesus] said to them: ‘What is this conversation which you are holding with each other.’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas answered Him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’

“And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘What things?’

“And they said to Him [Jesus], ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb; and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.’

“And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

“So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He [Jesus] appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight.

“They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while He [Jesus] talked to us on the road, while He opened us to the Scriptures?’ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and the found the Eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon [Peter]!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Luke 24: 13-35

Once again, we can imagine the great joy of Clopas and his wife, Mary, when they recognize Jesus at their dinner table — blessing, breaking and offering them bread. Jesus is indeed “the Bread of Life … the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” (John 6: 48, 51) Through this gentle and merciful act, Jesus assures His disciples — and all of us — that our spiritual communion with Him is the bread of life that will sustain us here on earth.

These stories reveal that Jesus takes great care with His disciples, patiently resolving various mysteries when each disciple is ready to receive Him.

The depth of Jesus’ Love and Mercy is a wondrous thing to contemplate.

Jesus is still alive.

God is still here among us.

Jesus is here right now, beside you and me, calling us to move forward with Him into the greater fullness of God’s Love.