Church Saint André - Grenoble, France - 09-19-2025: Stained glass (19th century) of the appearance of Christ to the disciples after the Resurrection.
By Jason Heron, OblSB
Christians believe things about the Creator, the universe and the human person that they could not believe if God had not revealed them to us. The heart of this Divine Revelation is Jesus, who shows us that our Creator is a Trinity who desires friendship with each of us.
When we talk about Revelation, it seems like most Christians have been left out of the action. That is, God’s Revelation seems like something that happened a long time ago, in a far away place, to a few strange people. And now, all we can do is read about it in the Bible. This is understandable. And in a certain sense, it is true. We believe Jesus is the fullness of Revelation. Through his life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, he reveals to us everything we need in order to live in the Trinity’s love. In other words, Christians do not expect anyone else to come and reveal more about God, the universe and salvation.
But this does not mean that those of us who happen to be alive right now aren’t a part of the action. The Lord is always at work drawing all creation toward its destiny. Our own lives are no exception. And we can see the Lord’s work in our lives a little more clearly if we pay attention to the way the Lord worked in the lives of the disciples.
When you read the Gospels, it is clear that the disciples are fascinated by Jesus. It is also clear that they don’t quite know what they’re dealing with. But for some of them, the longer they’re with Jesus, the more they realize they’ll never be able to go back to their old lives again. Something new has happened to them.
Take Peter, for example. He’s eager to follow Jesus, and he often misunderstands what’s going on while he’s following. When he realizes that following might cost him everything, he denies even knowing Jesus. But then, after the Resurrection, on the shore at breakfast, Jesus forgives Peter. Their friendship is restored. Eventually, Peter and the rest of the early followers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they start to tell others what their relationship with Jesus has revealed to them. John puts it this way in his first letter:
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life—for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim not to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” (1 Jn 1:1-4)
In other words, Christians can’t help but share with others that the Word has become flesh. And our great hope is that others will join us in celebrating God’s generosity.
Ever since the first disciples saw, heard and touched Jesus in the flesh, Jesus’ followers have been fascinated by him. They’ve misunderstood him. They’ve realized following will cost everything. They’ve denied him. And he has forgiven them. As they experience this process, they tell other people what Jesus is revealing to them. And the process starts again for another person.
So, while it’s true that most Christians weren’t there for the life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, it’s not true that we’re missing out on the action. The one Revelation of God in Jesus is encountered anew throughout history. It happens again and again from person to person, as the faith is handed down throughout history. But it also happens repeatedly in my own life.
I do not experience the process of my own fascination, confusion, doubt, denial, repentance and forgiveness only once. Rather, the process spirals through my life as I develop through time. I’ve been alive for 45 years. So, I’ve been consciously aware of Jesus for about 40 years. I’ve found new ways to be fascinated, but I’ve also found new ways to doubt. I’ve journeyed through strange forms of denial, and I have received the refreshment of forgiveness again and again. It turns out I’m not missing out on the action of Revelation at all. Rather, my life only makes sense if Jesus is constantly at work to reveal the Trinity’s love for me.
Our ongoing reception of the unique Revelation of Jesus is what Scripture, Tradition and the Church are here for. I imagine Jesus’ life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension as a powerful, concentrated, superabundant moment in history. And it radiates outward to the beginning and end of time. Scripture, Tradition and the Church are gifts that help me know how to ride the waves of this Revelation throughout history and in my own life.
