Msgr. Pope on the Journey to Resurrection Faith

"The Gospels of the Easter Octave describe not just an event but even more so a journey. It is tempting to think that the disciples and apostles, having seen the risen Lord, were immediately confirmed in their faith, stripped of all doubt. 

"That is not the case, however. Nearly all the resurrection accounts make it clear that although seeing the risen Lord was 'mind-blowing,' it was only a beginning. As it is with any human experience, no matter how intense, encountering the risen Lord was something that the disciples needed to process. They needed to come to live its implications in stages. 

"This description of a journey, of a coming to resurrection faith in stages, is presented in the resurrection accounts. We notice that the first awareness occurred 'when it was still dark' and 'at the rising of the sun.' It does not suddenly become fully light at dawn, however. Rather, the light manifests itself and increases over time; so it is with awareness of the resurrection. It begins to 'dawn”'on the disciples that He is Risen, truly; He has appeared to Simon.

"The first reports are sketchy and there is a lot of running around: Mary Magdalene to Peter and John, Peter and John to the tomb, the women to the rest of the apostles. Yes, there is an awful lot of running about! It is still dark, and the cobwebs of recent sleep aren't completely gone; the light is just dawning, not yet at full strength.

"The disciples wonder what it all means and how it has changed/will change their lives. The answers to questions like these will require a journey; they are not to be answered in a mere moment."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the journey experienced by the disciples of Jesus as they experienced and reflected on the Resurrection event and its follow up - and on our own journeys to Resurrection faith..

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Fearful Yet Overjoyed - The Journey to Resurrection Faith (21 APR 19)