Recognising the risen Christ

By Fr Stephan Alexander

General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

The post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus to His disciples are an important feature of the liturgy throughout the Easter season. Starting from Easter Sunday and continuing until Pentecost, the Church provides us with glimpses of these encounters, which were essential for the early Christian community.

The appearances primarily occurred within a community gathering or during a meal, generally on Sunday—“the first day of the week” —mirroring the liturgical setting of the Eucharist.

The impact of these stories, and the faith of the early Church has helped Christians throughout the centuries to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist just as the disciples of Emmaus recognised Him in the breaking of the bread.

Just as the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus were important for the early Christians, they are important for us today. If we reflect closely on these accounts, we may observe a curious detail.

The disciples, the persons closest to Jesus, could not recognise Him. These persons knew Him intimately. Most of them had journeyed with Him for the better part of three years; some for even longer. Yet none of them recognised Jesus or they were uncertain as to whether the person present to them was Jesus.

One could accept the disciples’ failure to recognise Jesus on the first occasion. Let’s be fair, they were traumatised. Jesus had been crucified and with Him their hopes. Plus, no one had ever returned from the dead before, so why would they believe He could?

Hence, the person they saw on that first occasion must have been someone else, perhaps a gardener, or stranger on the road. But even as we forgive them for the first encounter, why couldn’t they recognise Him on the second or third occasion? Scripture is clear that Jesus appeared to His disciples on several occasions. On several of those occasions, the same persons were present. Why couldn’t they recognise Him?

Disciples’ experiences

My focus for this column isn’t with answering that question. Rather, I hope to bring to light a reality that is true yet often overlooked: sometimes, no matter how close to Jesus we are, we may not recognise Him even as He reveals Himself to us repeatedly.

I desire to highlight this truth because it challenges the dangerous assumption that because we know Jesus, worship regularly, or consider ourselves faithful, we automatically recognise or perceive Jesus correctly in every circumstance.

Too often, we think that way, yet the disciples’ experiences after the Resurrection suggest that proximity to Jesus does not always guarantee clarity about Jesus.

If we are aware of this and open to reflection, we may then recognise the need to be more discerning, which may lead us to greater truth.

Haven’t we, like the disciples, failed to recognise Christ because He appears in ways we do not expect? Haven’t we made decisions or held firm to positions contrary to the Gospel, yet convinced of our righteousness?

This is why such an approach is important. We continue to search for God in power, certainty, and personal comfort, while God continues to reveal Himself instead in suffering, in the poor, in the marginalised, in the challenge to forgive, or in the uncomfortable demand for justice and peace.

Without such a disposition we may even reject His presence because it disrupts our assumptions, political loyalties, prejudices, or personal ambitions.

Friends, being mistaken about Jesus can have profound consequences. When we fail to recognise Jesus, we may act contrary to His will while convincing ourselves that we are defending it.

History, and even our present moment, offers many examples of people professing faith while neglecting mercy, promoting war and division, or ignoring human dignity. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may walk with Christ yet remain blind until our hearts are opened.

The Resurrection accounts invite more than celebration; they demand discernment. They call us to continually ask: “Lord, is it truly You?” This question is not a sign of weak faith but of spiritual maturity. It reflects a heart willing to seek Christ beyond appearances and beyond personal certainty.

It is usually at the core of people devoted to the work and promotion of justice. As we continue to make ourselves available to God let us continue to be discerning about who God is inviting us to serve and how we may serve them.

The good news is that Jesus remains patient. He continues to reveal Himself to us in the breaking of bread, to speak through Scripture, and to meet us in community. Our task is to remain open, attentive, and humble enough to recognise when our vision has been incomplete.

In a world marked by confusion, division, and false certainties, Easter reminds us that recognising the risen Christ is not always immediate, but it is always transformative. If we are honest enough to admit that we do not always see clearly, we may become more discerning disciples—less reactive, less self-assured, and more committed to seeking Jesus faithfully in every person, every challenge, and every moment.

The CCSJ asks for your support. Please donate:

Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.

or you can contact us at:

admin.ccsj@catholictt.org