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March 30, 2008 - 2nd Sunday of Easter
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house
where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among
them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his
side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord... But Thomas (who was called
the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came... and 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 20:19-29
Imagine the day for the disciples - the tomb where Jesus had been placed was
empty, Mary Magdalene claims Jesus had appeared to her, and still they hide in fear behind
locked doors. And only Thomas is remembered as the one who doubts?
We're all human, and doubts come easily in life. But the risen Jesus appears to us
every day. Thomas needed physical proof which Jesus provided. The disciples needed peace,
which Jesus gave more than once. The body of Christ needed the gift of the Holy Spirit
which was provided at Pentecost and continues to enliven our lives today.
What do you need to believe? What locked doors do you hide behind? Or better yet,
where do you already see and experience the risen Christ?
We pray: Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the
hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the
fullness of Christ's blessing, Amen
Lessons for the 2nd Sunday of Easter:
- Psalm 16
- Acts 2:14a, 22-32
- 1 Peter 1:3-9
- John 20:19-31
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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