Eucharistic Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter: Year A
Acts 2:14-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20: 29)
Perhaps we have not “seen” Jesus, at least, not in human form as a Palestinian Jew. But we see him in the acts of people who believe in him.
In scripture we see Jesus come to people huddled up in a room as did the apostles. They had their own quarantine so to speak. They were behind a locked door but that did not stop Jesus.
Jesus seems to really get upset about people who have first heard and then did not believe. Jesus was upset with the disciples who heard Mary Magdalene declare “He has risen,” but they didn’t believe her. Jesus reprimanded the two on the road to Emmaus. You see, “In the beginning was the Word! not the sight. We walk by faith, not by sight. I think Jesus is trying to make the point that we should believe the Jesus stories we are told, at least believe until we find out different, and I don’t believe we ever will.
But we can see the presence of Jesus through the acts of believers today. I saw and heard Jesus in a Doctor at Chapel Hill more than twelve years ago, who asked if she could pray with us for one of our then teenage high school boys who was run over by a school bus while riding his motorcycle. She asked to pray with us before she performed surgery on him. I was so moved by her asking. It is good to witness doctors of faith and feel the presence of Jesus today in our presence. We can hear and see our Lord Jesus in Doctors and nurses and store clerks, and truck drivers cooped up in their various, and sometimes locked-in environments today. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Even more blessed are those who have heard and then come to see our Lord Jesus in the loving acts of his people. I bid you all, to go and be blessed, and then be a blessing to others. Tell your own Jesus stories so that others may first hear and then see our Lord Jesus in their own way.
Let us pray:
Blessed Lord Jesus, as you have been raised from the dead and continue coaching us through this life in order to lead us into everlasting life, be patient Lord Christ as we can be a stubborn people. Instill in us our way of sensing your presence today by word and deed in order that we may follow where you lead us to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 