Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings of Sunday of the 2nd Week of Easter: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 146 and 147; Evening, Psalms 111, 112 and 113:
Isaiah 43:8 to 13; 1st Peter 2:2 to 10; John 14:1 to 7:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
Many monotheistic faiths believe in One, all Creating God. However, we Christians also believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the on-earth, manifestation of the same One-God. We are where God is if we have Christ within us. Our lord Jesus preached God as the loving and compassionate God. God never has to arrive, only make the God’s-self known to us. God is always with us although not seen by mortal eyes. This is further pondered in part 2 of today.
Part 2 of 2
Eucharistic Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter: Year B
“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.”” (John 20:19)
The only word I question in this translation of the Bible is the word “came.” It is mentioned twice that on the First day of the week, as well as a week later, the doors were shut and locked. So how does the Raised Jesus (back in the flesh), get in? I argue that Jesus was already among them, only not in a human discernible way. A review of the Gospel of Luke will inform us that when the Risen Jesus was at table with the travelers on the road to Emmaus they realized who he is. “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight,” (Luke 24:31). It’s funny, their eyes were opened and they lost sight of him. Our Lord Jesus is God’s presence among us, seen or unseen.
Maybe we can’t hear the words “Peace be with you,” unless we can see who it’s coming from. But none the less, our Lord Jesus is still saying to us, “Peace be with you,” seen or unseen. Let us accept peace no matter what. Let us not let our hearts be troubled. Jesus tells Thomas (and us), that we are blessed if we have not physically seen, yet we believe. Remember, our Lord Jesus, along with the heavenly hosts, are always with us, even though we can’t see them. We should live our lives with the understanding of the very public heavenly view that we are in. Heaven sees everything. Locked doors or secrete posts are not hidden or blocked from divine eyes. The quicker we accept the peace of Christ, the less our hearts will be troubled. Peace be with you.
Let us live to love, more than we just love to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 