Life introduces us to the risen Christ; and the risen Christ introduces us to life. As the Gospel of John says, “…in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (Jn 1:4.)
First, life introduces the risen Christ. Paula D’arcy once said, “God comes to you disguised as your life.” Or as Frederick Buechner invites, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it ….” That holy and hidden heart is the risen Christ; our life is an introduction to His loving presence.
Second, the risen Christ introduces us to life, real life. After looking for hope and love and faith in all the wrong places, the risen Christ stands at the door of our hearts knocking, inviting us to find the real life we seek. God in this risen Christ asks, “Why do you spend for that which … does not satisfy? … come to me … that you may live” (Isa 55:2,3.)
We recently enjoyed a vision, a visit with this risen Christ. He was present at a breakfast, a lunch of chicken pot pie shared with folks from our childhood, a lake and rain and a small tree frog and scent of woods perfume and sleep after visits, and spaghetti and ribs and seafood with brothers and friends and other fellow pilgrims. He went about those people and places introducing us to His presence; He drifted around those visits and visions continuing to introduce us to real life.
We may not make it to a church this year on what we call Easter. A monthly outpatient procedure helps me continue this lifelong introduction to the risen Christ, but that same procedure asks a few hours, sometimes days, of recovery. But the risen Christ says continually, in this marvelous introduction called life, “I am with you always…” (Matt 28:20.) Always, and in all places.
Easter is not a day; it is Jesus’ continual work of loving us into life, of His perpetual and persistent search to be known in all life. Our few or many days on this earth are an introduction to the eternal life and way and truth that the risen Christ is.
Do you see Him? Do you see the real life held in His outstretched hand? His life is yours; your life is His. Whoever, wherever you are or I am, He is right there making the introduction of eternal life, here, now.
