Posted on 04/10/2012 9:57:09 AM PDT by Salvation
This blog post is a follow-up from yesterdays blog. You can read yesterdays post by clicking HERE
When we encounter the resurrection accounts in the New Testament we face a challenge in putting all the pieces together in a way that the sequence of the events flow in logical order. This is due to the fact that no one Gospel presents all, or even most of the data. Some of the data also seems to conflict. I tried to show in yesterdays blog that these apparent conflicts are not, usually, true conflicts. Another problem with putting all the facts together in a coherent and reasonably complete manner is that the time line of the events is often unclear in some of the accounts. Luke and John are the clearest as to the time frame of the events they describe but Matthew and Luke give us very few parameters. Both Acts and Paul also supply data wherein the time frame is not always clear.
Nevertheless I want to propose to you a possible, dare I claim, even likely, sequence of the Resurrection events. The work is my own and I make no claim that this scenario is certain or backed up by recognized ancient authority. St Augustine has done quite a lot of work in this matter and you can read that by clicking HERE. My attempts here are simply the fruit of 20+ years of praying over and pondering the events of those forty days between the Lords resurrection and ascension. My reflections are based as solidly as possible on the actual biblical data with a sprinkling of speculation. I realize that the attempt to do this will irritate some modern biblical scholars who, for reasons unclear to me, seem to insist it is wrong to attempt any synthesis of the texts.
Nevertheless, I boldly press on figuring that the average believer will benefit from it and find such a synthesis interesting. Take it for what it is, the work of an obscure pastor who has prayed and carefully sought to follow the sequence of the forty days. You may wish to offer correction or alternative interpretation and are encouraged to do so in the comments. I have posted a PDF of this Document that is easier to read here: The Resurrection Appearances Chronologically Arranged
In this years version I have included the hyperlinks to the biblical texts so that you can simply click on them to read the text and press back to return here.
So here is a possible and, if I do say so myself, likely chronological sequence of the resurrection appearances. It is a kind of synthesis that attempts to collect all the data and present it in a logical order. There are limits to what we can expect of the Scriptural account, and fitting perfectly into a time frame and logical sequence is not what the texts primarily propose to do. Yet such a chronological sequence can prove helpful and it is in that spirit that I present this.
Here is a video I put together based on a song sung here at my Parish on Good Friday. It is sung by one of our Sopranos, Marjorie Boursiquot. It is arranged by Kenneth Louis, our director and composed by Long and Pote. The song is titled: You Love Me Prepare for a real treat:
Catholic Ping!
Question: Point A 1. how did these women expect to role the stone away to do their thing with the body of Christ?
printed for family dinner discussion
without there being the ressurection, these women assumed the guards would still be there, and roll the stone away....
New Sunday is the eighth day of the Churchs celebration of the resurrection. The first week of the Season of Resurrection, the Week of Hawareyeen, has come to a conclusion. During this week, we have seen the various appearances of the Lord:
to Mary Magdalene,
the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias,
the disciples on the road to Emmaus,
to Peter,
and the disciples gathered in the upper room. Now the appearances of the Lord are over. In overcoming the hesitation of Thomas, the Lord revealed to the apostles the truth of the resurrection. Christ has risen, truly risen!
New Sunday once and for all puts an end to the old way of looking at the Lord. He is no longer revealed in the flesh (as the disciples experienced him during hs life with them); nor in glory (as Thomas did). From now on, he is revealed in Spirit, through the experience of faith and in the Mysteries (sacraments). Only in the Spirit is there a sharing in his mystery of redemption. His word is crystal clear and resounds for all ages and generations: You have become a believer because you saw me. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed. (John 20:29)
It always seemed odd to me that such a significant period should be so lightly recorded.
It occured to me that there’s an underlying meaning to the Resurrection that’s so obvious but which I rarely ever see mentioned. That is simply: He IS.
As our Parish Priest pointed out at Easter Day mass, Easter isn’t “commemorative” or the celebration of a “historical event” its a celebration of an ongoing event, i.e., the Living Word.
There’s a rather scary dimension to this really. He “IS”; he ascended, bodily. We “are” and HE IS. And HE sits at the right hand and will come again to judge!
????
Don’t you mean to roll?
But it’s in the Bible!!
Just here and there.
The good Monsignor has done the homework for us.
I made a mistake. You didn’t answer my question. Play like I’m on phonics and role means roll. If the stone was so light a couple of women could move it, that would give lots of ammo for the “someone stole his body theorists”.
That makes sense as everyone knew that there were guards posted there. Was hoping to hear a few other theories too. Aloha
The Resurrection Appearances Chronologically Arranged
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That is not exactly correct, I think... She attempts to 'cling to Him', but He does not allow it:
Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Not meaning to nitpick, but it is an important distinction, as I believe it to mean He was still ceremonially acting as High Priest, until He had presented the First Fruits to His Father at the Heavenly Alter...
In the Temple ceremony the high priest finished the sacrifice with the perfect lamb that he himself picked @ Bethlehem - Then he went underground (to quarters beneath the Temple)... emerging at dusk Saturday evening (actually the day after the Sabbath, which begins @ dusk) to mark the sheaves... then returning, until (Sunday) morning when he harvests those sheaves, which are then prepared to be roasted for the First Fruits offering. During the entire time, the high priest is to remain ceremonially clean which includes being untouched by any human.
IMO, the above passage indicates that Christ was performing IRL what the high priests had been acting out for centuries...
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