Seen and Heard

Yesterday, while out walking on Chobham Common, we heard the distinctive call of the cuckoo. Fortunately, I had remembered to take my binoculars, so with careful scanning of the trees to our left, we could see the bird as well. We were also able to continue our walk, and came much closer, and see its long tail, which confirmed that what we were seeing was not a collard dove. It was indeed a cuckoo!

For both of us, this was the first cuckoo for many years - both heard and seen. They are much easier to hear than to see. Together, the evidence was compelling.

The Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus tell of what the women heard and saw. Again, the combination of hearing and seeing is compelling.

In Matthew's account, there is an earthquake, reminding us of the loud thunder clap we all heard on Easter Sunday at St. Andrew's, as Daniel Natnael was recounting the story. 'Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.' (Matthew 28.2)

All the Gospels have the women hearing words from angels, before they see the risen Jesus. 'So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! " (Luke 24.3-6a)

Following the instructions they had heard, later we read of Jesus appearing to disciples, so they had also seen him. 'Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.' (Luke 24.35-36)

In our own experience of meeting the risen Jesus, I guess that we all heard the story, from someone else, and maybe we all saw the life of Jesus in those who spoke to us. That combination of a convincing story to hear, and a life transformed by the life of Jesus is compelling. This means that this week, and every week, we can pray that Jesus would be heard and seen in the people like us who know Him and follow him. Then more people will be changed, and story will pass on.

And how good that will be.

Best wishes,

Richard