Eastertide

April 28, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ –John 20:24-29

We are a part of those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. At least we have not seen the wounds in his side and hand. Do we see Jesus in the work that we do? Do we see the Risen Christ in small and great changes in people’s lives? Do we still cling to the hope of the coming of a Kingdom ruled by God?

I must admit I have my ups and downs. I can get discouraged and need to be refueled by the Spirit of God. I am so glad that Paul included these words in his letter to the Romans (8:26-27):  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. I think he wrote them just for me.

There are so many problems in our world for which there seems to be no answer and yet they need to be addressed. People invest most of their time in just doing the daily acts of living. It takes extraordinary steps at times to deal with issues that are beyond our limited scope. Yet I believe God calls us to oneness which, of necessity, requires us to move beyond our comfort zones to love like Jesus loves.

Prayer: Lord, slow our lives down to a speed that allows us to complete our routine life works while finding the time to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.