Easter is over and so is March Madness! Many times, after a significant event such as Easter is over, we feel a let-down. The Season of Lent is a 40-day preparation just for Easter and then in one day, it is all over! Do you ever have problems with what we could call the “post-Easter blues?”
In our scripture reading for today, I believe that is what we read about in the story of Thomas. In John’s Gospel, the disciples have locked themselves in a house for fear that the Roman soldiers were going to come and take them away to be crucified as well. Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb only to find it empty. She hurries back to the house and tells Peter and the disciples whom Jesus loved, that someone had taken Jesus’ body. The two men run to see for themselves but they return to the locked house, not sure what had taken place. Mary has a face-to-face meeting with Jesus and she is told to go tell the disciples that “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17b) Notice that the message Jesus gives Mary is NOT that he has risen form the dead, but that he is returning to “his Father and your Father!” As John continues to write, we are given a somewhat chilling scene. Jesus just appears in the room with the disciples and he shows them his hands and his side. They now have “proof” that this really is Jesus. Jesus then breathes on them giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit and the ability to forgive sins. But Thomas was not with them—he did not experience the risen Christ as the others did. When Thomas does come to the house, the group tells him that they have seen the risen Christ, but Thomas does not believe them. Maybe it is because they had played too many practical jokes on him or maybe he needed to see as the other disciples had seen. For whatever reason, Thomas needed proof and a week later, Jesus gave him that proof. I think we blame Thomas for doubting, but the truth is, he needed the same proof that the others had already had. Jesus comes again, giving Thomas what he needs. Jesus does not belittle him because he too needed proof. In fact, Jesus does just the opposite. He offers his hands and side as proof and he tells Thomas to “be unbelieving no longer.” (v27) Today, Jesus still provides for you and for me what we need (not what we think we need!). Today, we too, need to proclaim as Thomas did, “My Lord and my God!” Amen.
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This blog consists of reflections written by the minister each week for the Sunday bulletin. We hope that you enjoy the musings! Archives
January 2020
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