When the women came from Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter
morning declaring that Jesus was raised from the dead the response of the
disciples was not joy, it was not belief, it was not faith. Instead, they responded with ridicule, doubt
and fear. After all, they knew that crucifixion
was final. Death was final. The tomb was final. Everyone knew that. How could Jesus be alive? They were so trapped by what they thought
they knew that there was no way they could overcome it.
Isn’t it the same for us?
Our spirits can be just as trapped by what we think we know about the
world and how it works. It can be hard,
even impossible, to break through the logical, empirical, concrete and
practical perspectives that shape our worldviews to get our heads around the
idea of a God who loves us enough to come and die for us. It can be hard, even impossible, to trust
that God’s love and life is stronger even than death.
We need help. In this
week’s text, we see how that help is given.
“Peace be with you.” Jesus says to the frightened disciples
on the evening of Easter. (v.19) The Holy Spirit is always at work within us
healing us, making us whole, overcoming fear with love and summoning us to live
in peace. But, even more, the Spirit sends
us out to share that peace with others.
As we forgive, as we work for peace, as we strive for justice and
healing in the world, faith grows. As we
begin to see Christ in the face of the other, faith grows.
“Do not doubt, but believe.” Jesus says to Thomas. (v. 27)
Doubt is a normal part of faith. None
of us see God clearly. None of us
experiences God’s love completely. Even the most adept holy men and women
confess with humility the limits of their perception. The story of Thomas reminds us that Jesus
gives us what we need when we need it;
usually in the form of fellow seekers to walk alongside us. As we live the questions and struggle
together with our doubts, faith grows.
“These are written so
that you may come to believe…” John
writes. (v. 31) The stories about Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection in the New Testament are compelling. They show us who Jesus is and along with the
stories in the Hebrew scriptures, show us who God is and what God’s love is
like. They invite us to follow, just as Jesus
invited the first disciples to follow.
They show us a way of life that really is life. As we enter into these stories and let them
shape who we are, faith grows.
Faith is not something that we conjure up from within. It is not something we do to merit salvation.
Faith is a gift, given to us through the
Holy Spirit, so that we can grasp the
abundant life that is already ours through Jesus Christ. And more than just grasp it… actually live in and through it.
Blessed Easter,
Bishop Mike
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