We have different accounts of the resurrection appearances in the Gospels: none of the resurrection itself. Christ's resurrection defies language and human understanding. It is beyond what we can put into words. We describe instead the empty tomb, a symbol not of absence and fear, as the disciples first respond, but of joy. It is through the resurrection appearances of Jesus they finally understand the empty tomb, and only then can they rejoice.
We too may approach the resurrection with questions, for it is out of our human experience. And yet, this is the heart of our faith. The resurrection of Jesus declares many things - perhaps most obviously, an end to death. It gives us hope for the future beyond the grave. But is it much more than that. It tells us that difficulty, pain and loss do not have the last word. And most importantly, it tells us Christ is alive today. This is Christ who journeys alongside us and who meets us in our worship, in bread and wine, in our daily life and in one another. We are called to be the Easter people, who walk in the light of Christ's resurrection always. Like Mary and the other disciples, the resurrected Christ meets us in our journey of faith; comes alongside us in our questions and anxieties. He is the one who opens our eyes to recognise who he is: the source of all life. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!