A Scripture scholar breaks down the first witnesses of the risen Christ

What does it mean to preach resurrection into a broken world? In this first episode of our 2026 Easter series, host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., welcomes Alberto Solano, a New Testament scholar at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California. Together, they open up the post-resurrection appearances in John’s Gospel—Mary in the garden, Thomas in the upper room, Peter by the charcoal fire—and ask why the risen Christ keeps showing up not to the powerful, but to the grieving, the fearful and the lost. 

Timecodes:

• 0:00 The risen Christ first meets the outcast, the fearful, the rejected
• 1:25 What do the resurrection appearances in John have to offer preachers today?
• 2:50 Alberto Solano brings scripture scholarship to Preach
• 4:26 Why does Jesus call Mary Magdalene by name?
• 8:50 What did “resurrection from the dead” mean to a Jewish people?
• 18:46 “Doubting Thomas”—or the most faithful disciple?
• 22:20 Your worst moment isn’t your whole story
• 27:04 Why does the Church turn to John at Easter more than the other Gospels?
• 34:40 Acts — how the early Church learned to love its enemies as neighbours
• 38:45 What does Easter call preachers to say?