When the apostles saw the risen Christ on the evening of His resurrection, "they thought they were seeing a ghost" (Lk 24:37). Jesus tried to prove He was real by showing them His hands and feet, inviting them to touch Him, and eating a piece of fish (Lk 24:39-43). Despite these attempts, the risen Christ did not seem real enough to them to cause them to overcome their fears and change their lives.

We too have difficulties getting in touch with the reality of the risen Christ because we don't face reality in many ways. For instance, millions deny the reality that pregnant women have babies in their wombs. They choose to pretend the baby is not a human being. Our culture seems to be one long series of attempts to escape from reality, using alcohol, drugs, TV, promiscuity, video games, computer games, mind-games, etc. We even have entertainment called "virtual reality," whereby one can create their own "reality." Denial, in the psychological sense of the word, permeates our society. We deny the existence of objective truth, sin, and responsibility for our actions. Many pretend that they'll live forever and never face Judgment Day.

In a world so out of touch with reality, it's understandable that the risen Christ may seem to be a ghost. We are just projecting our own unreality onto Him. The risen Jesus is definitely real, but are we? Have we consigned ourselves to a ghostly existence of selfishness, self-deception, and sin? When we "get real," we'll find out that Jesus has always been real. Get real.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, October 10, 1995

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 13, 1995