We are still celebrating Easter. The church refers to these fifty days of Easter as Eastertide in which we hear stories from Scripture, and other sources, that tell of the resurrection of Christ. It is during this time that people become amazed at what was seen by them.
Disciples in a locked room visited by Jesus. People on a walk to Emmaus traveling with, the then unidentified, Jesus. Disciples fishing and then having breakfast prepared for them on the shore by Jesus. A doubting Thomas visited by Jesus to show the wounds of the crucifixion. A woman in the garden talking with Jesus who was just resurrected. As a matter of fact, there were many more such visits to people from the risen Christ. We read in the Gospel of John “now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these were written so you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (20:30)
In all the instances in which Jesus appeared, we also hear that their hearts burned within them. On the walk to Emmaus Jesus asked the two that were walking with him: “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26) In this way Jesus invited them to understand that death is not the end. Instead Jesus asks them to embrace a life of telling the story over and over again. Likewise, the disciples in hiding came out of hiding with their hearts on fire to tell others of their witness.
It is not only in Scripture that we hear and see Jesus with his followers. We have a long history in the church, established by Christ, of people burning in their hearts to say and do more for others to hear the love of Christ in the crucifixion and the resurrection. The Saints, the mystics, the poets, the people of the world, the ordinary and simple folk who have heard and seen miracle’s in their life’s journey! There are still others today who feel the love of God in their hearts and reach out to tell others! Jesus’ resurrection was over two thousand years ago and we still realize that believing that Christ rose from death is to show us that we too will do the same!
Doesn’t that make your hearts burn within you?