Daily
Thoughts:
In our Gospel today John offers us three diverse, yet united encounters. First,
Jesus appears to the frightened apostles, minus Thomas. He offers them peace,
then invites them to take on his mission, a mission he received from his
Father, and then breathed upon their fear and confusion the gift of the Holy
Spirit sending them forth with the mercy of God to offer the forgiveness.
Next it
is now a week later, Jesus appears to the same group of apostles, this time
including Thomas. As we have learned from the time in between the two visits by
Jesus, Thomas, needs to see signs and wonders. So Jesus invites him to see and
touch the signs and wonders of his Passion and believe. Thomas’ simple respond
is, “My Lord and my God!” Perhaps in our words, “I believe.” Jesus then asks
Thomas to not depend on signs and wonder anymore but to have faith, to see
differently.
Finally,
at the end of today’s Gospel, John tells us that he has written enough for us
to believe without seeing. Yes, there were other signs and wonders after the
Resurrection, but these which have been recorded are offered so that all who
read and all who pray with them might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son
of God and through faith, they will have true life in his name.
Good old
Thomas is such a good friend to us and so are the apostles gathered together in
fear and separated by their individual shame at having abandoned their teacher,
friend and Lord. They are living our doubts, our fears, our shames, and our
desires to see just a little bit more so that our faith will be strengthened.
It seems that God knows us better than we know ourselves. A little bit more would
always be just a little bit more of what we would want. Thomas wanted to see
more than he had heard his companions had seen. Jesus reminds Thomas, the
others and us that seeing is not believing, but rather believing is a way of
seeing beyond what can blind us.
This
seeing beyond is the gift of the Holy Spirit and it leads to us being sent out
beyond ourselves as well. We are sent, as the Holy Spirit was sent to us, to
attract others to Christ, to the Father. How we live by faith and not by sight
is a graceful challenge to this “I need to see to believe world.” If we walk by
faith and not by sight, then we will make the world around us uncomfortable. If
we try to live by faith and not by sight, we can become a sign and wonder to
the world of God’s wonderful and awesome mercy and love.
Our
struggles to live faithful, hope filled, and loving lives by going out, being
sent, is the miracle of our times. By our life of faith, we become reminders
that there is a beyond and what we see is the creative mercy and love of God.
As reminders we give new life to this creative mercy and love. Easter is our
time for walking by faith, for going out and beyond.
Have a
great Second Sunday of Easter everyone.
Daily
Prayer: God
the Father, bless us: Christ, guard us: Holy Spirit, enlighten us, all the days
of our lives. Loving God, be the defender and guardian of our souls and bodies,
world without end. The right hand of the Lord preserves us always to old age! The
grace of Christ perpetually defends us from all enemies! Direct, Lord, our
hearts into the way of peace. Loving God, deliver and help us always. Amen!
(Adapted from a prayer from the Book of Cerne)
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you’re not
pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you’re not demanding more from
yourself—expanding and learning as you go—you’re choosing a numb existence.” (Dean Karnazes) So too in the spiritual
life…
Daily
Blessing:
Sunday morning greetings and blessings to all! It is a rather cold and windy
day here in Pelham. Storms blew through after midnight and I awoke to a
beautiful sunny day but the wind is howling and the temperatures are cold once
again. I hope you awakened to a beautiful day, one that will be rich in God’s
many blessings!
I pray
that God will bless you Sunday with the richness of the mercy and joy of Risen
Christ and the joy of God’s love. On
this Second Sunday of Easter, may our Good and Gracious God bless you and
protect you from the struggles and perils of life. May the God who so loves us
that he gave us his only Son touch you with that love today and always. And
through the joyous grace of Christ may God lead you to the banquet of lasting
joy. Amen – Alleluia!
Enjoy
your day, don't forget to give God a little time today and I hope wherever you
are the sun is out and the day will be warm and full of the colors of spring!
Peace in Christ's Passion - Joy in the Risen Lord...Fr. Paul
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