Eastertide
April 24, 2022
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.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. –John 20:24-31
The Greek word for life is zōḗ* and it means—life (physical and spiritual). All life (2222 /zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.
Life is a precious gift from God not to be taken for granted and not to be wasted. Our lives are the product of God’s love and we are called to live into and through that love. It was best illustrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. His life is the model for our living in bad times and in good, in the doubt of Thomas and the certainty of our author, John. I rather like the Hebrew take on life as played out in the musical Fiddler on the Roof describes life thusly,
- Our great men have written words of
Wisdom to be used
When hardship must be faced;
Life obliges us with hardship
So the words of wisdom
shouldn’t go to waste.
- God would like us to be joyful
Even though our hearts lie panting on the floor;
How much more can we be joyful,
When there’s really something
To be joyful for**.
God is with us in spirit and in truth, loving us completely, and holding us to the high expectation of building a world ruled by God’s love.
Prayer: Lord, on this first Sunday after Easter, grant us the guidance to understand the wisdom of those who shared your history in word and in deed and the perseverance to take joy in your service no matter how stressful it becomes. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm
**source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/f/fiddlerontherooflyrics/tolifelyrics.html
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.