by Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, O.M.F., Cap.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to various people on a number of occasions. He appears to Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the Apostles. Paul enumerates the appearances of which he is aware:

He first appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to the apostles. Last of all, as one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

Moreover, unrecognized, Jesus also appeared to two on the road to Emmaus, one of whom is named Cleopas. (Luke 24:13-43) Traditionally, it is presumed that the two were men and portrayed as such in paintings. The two, however, could have been Cleopas and his wife. After all, it would have been more likely that a woman would invite Jesus to stay with them and then prepare a meal for him.

More importantly, Jesus transforms this meal into a Eucharistic liturgy. In the breaking of the bread and in giving of it to them, "their eyes were opened, and they recognized him." At this point, Jesus "vanished out of their sight."

Now, in all of these Resurrection appearances, Jesus appears and disappears. He comes and goes. What Jesus wants to manifest in these appearances is that he is truly bodily alive. So much is this the case, that in Luke's Gospel, after his appearance to the two on the road to Emmaus, he appeared to the eleven. They were amazed, and "supposed that they saw a spirit."

Jesus responds: "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have?" In their still remaining disbelief, Jesus asked: "Have you anything here to eat?" In response, Luke states: "They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before them."

That Jesus was truly risen was also "doubting" Thomas's concern. When the Apostles told the absent Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he declared: "Unless I see in his hands the print marks of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." Thomas needed proof that Jesus was truly, bodily risen. He too wanted to be assured that Jesus was not just the ghost of a dead man.

Jesus honored Thomas's request. On the Sunday following Easter, Jesus appeared again to the apostles. He said to Thomas: "Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless but believing." Thomas responded: "My Lord and my God!" The bodily Jesus is truly Thomas's risen Lord and so his saving God.

Now, why, in the above, is the ability to see and touch the risen Jesus, and Jesus' ability, even in his risen state, to eat a piece of fish so important? Is it simply to prove that Jesus has authentically risen from the dead?

Although that is essential for our salvation, it is absolutely indispensable for the Eucharist. Only if Jesus is bodily risen from the dead is the Eucharist the risen body of Christ. What the two on the road to Emmaus ate in the breaking of the bread was Jesus's risen humanity - his risen body and blood, soul and divinity.

I noted above that the risen Jesus appeared and disappeared. He came and he went. Ultimately, Jesus ascended into Heaven, and he will not appear again until the end of time when he will gloriously return on the clouds of Heaven. But it's also true that Jesus has never left us! He does not appear and disappear. He is always present to us in the Eucharist.

In a sense, Jesus' salvific death and life-giving resurrection are for the sake of the Eucharist, for in the Eucharist we come into communion with the risen Jesus. In so doing, we not only abide with him here on earth, but we anticipate our abiding with him forever in Heaven. In the Eucharist, Jesus comes down to earth upon our altars, that he might lift us up into ...