1. Christian experience of faith has this really central constant of the apostolic evangelization: it is experience of Christ Resurrected, constituted Lord. Let us see the traces of his presence or, better said, some of the most important features of this experience that marks the identity of the newborn Church and also today’s Church.
2. In the first place, Christ Resurrected, constituted Lord of history, is not recognized suddenly; moreover, the disciples are slow in recognizing him. So the disciples of Emmaus, who on the way back share the failure of his hope (Lk 24, 21), they recognize him at the breaking of the bread: Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him (24,31); before, their eyes were prevented to recognize him (24,16), they were foolish and slow (24,25) even though they had perceived something special: Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us? (24,32). Something similar happened to Mary Magdalene in the garden (Jn 20,15) and to the disciples in the lake (Jn 21, 4).
3. The disciples are slow to recognize him, among other reasons, because Jesus has changed profoundly: His way of presence is different. Already he is not between us in the manner of man, but in the manner of God. That is to say, as Lord. And so they all begin identifying and recognizing him: The disciples of Emmaus who come back to Jerusalem and share the good news: It is true. The Lord has resurrected! (24,34); Mary Magdalene, who reacts with a word reserved usually for God: Rabbouni! More solemn than rabbi, that meant teacher (Jn 20,16); the beloved disciple who announces it to his fellow fishermen: He is the Lord (Jn 21,7.12); Thomas who passes from unfaith to faith: My Lord and my God (Jn 20,28). In recognition, it is imposed peace, astonishment, joy: The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord (Jn 20,20; Lk 24,41).
4. Jesus of Nazareth, established as Lord (the same as God!), is recognized in the ordinary circumstances of life, in which burst forth the good news of the resurrection. For example, the way back and the frustrated hope of the disciples Emmaus (Lk 24,21), the erratic search and ceaseless crying of Magdalene’s (Jn 20,11-15), the wasted night of those disciples that went to fish (Jn 21,3), the skeptical and suspicious attitude of St. Thomas (Jn 20,25).
5. Jesus of Nazareth is recognized as Lord of history (this history of us!), in the middle of events that become signs. By a similar way, along history, the presence of the God of Israel: in the middle of meaningful and revealing events that talk, had been recognized. So, the disciples of Emmaus recognized him breaking the bread and in all that had been happening this day: the enlightened word of the unknown walker, the fire in the heart, the sense of the Scriptures as key to the events, the profound revelation, the hospitality gesture, the blessing, the shared table, the “incredible” presence (Lk 34,32; 24,25-31); in all the events that happen in the garden (as the others, plainly described) Mary Magdalene recognizes Jesus by the word that he addresses to her (Jn 20,16); the same happens to the disciples: by the lake (Jn 21, 4-13), at the table (Jn 20,19-21; Mk 16; Lk 24,36-49), on the top of a mountain (Mt 28,16), to all of them he manifests in his word.
6. Christ Resurrected is present in history in the manner of God, as Lord: It explains that he is only recognized by believers, that is to say, for those who recognize God’s action in the history. As a matter of fact, Christ Resurrected is not made present in the weakness of the body and blood but in the dynamic of the Spirit: No one can say, “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the touch of the holy Spirit (1 Co 12,3).
7. The Resurrection of Jesus and his recognition as Lord is a transcendent event that - nevertheless – has its historic signs, really “touchable” by believers. So they can say that Jesus walks with them (Lk 24,15), drinks and eats with them (24,30.43), fishes with them, (Jn 21,6) meets with them, introduces himself in the middle of them, in spite of doors are closed (Jn 21,19). Christ Resurrected is, as living God, in the heart of history. And he repeats the signs that confirm his evangelized mission, that allow him to be recognized. Those signs confirm, moreover, the mission of the disciples (Mk 16,20).
8. The fact that Jesus is recognized as the Lord of history supposes a deep, radical change (Acts 2,37). As a matter of fact, first Christians are astounded and bewildered (Acts 2,12), they seem drunk (2,13), they become “fools” and, have all things in common (2,42-44; 4,32-35). It produces special impact on the spectacular change experimented by Paul of Tarsus: “Is not this man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon his name”? (9,21).
9. We can review if our experience of Christ has also these features:
Is not recognized suddenly
His way of presence is different
In the ordinary circumstances of life
In the middle of events that become signs
In his word
At the breaking of the bread
In the dynamic of the Spirit
By believers
They become like “fools”