Mathew 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
Prayer
Today is referred to as “low Sunday,” sort of as the calm following the storm of Holy Week and Easter; and it usually results in low attendance as well.
It is also a Sunday known as Thomas Sunday because of the Gospel lesson dealing with Saint Thomas. Here at St. Paul’s, we add a third: CPC Sunday, a time when we gather offerings for those needing books for the study of ministry.
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Somehow he got stuck with the appellation, “Doubting Thomas” because of his words about Jesus
Somehow he got stuck with the appellation, “Doubting Thomas” because of his words about Jesus-This of course is quite unfair, and it brings to mind a folk story about a fellow in a small town in western Kentucky around 1900. He, like Saint Thomas, for one brief moment of his life did something that resulted in a permanent reputation.
This of course is quite unfair, and it brings to mind a folk story about a fellow in a small town in western Kentucky around 1900. He, like Saint Thomas, for one brief moment of his life did something that resulted in a permanent reputation. -The story goes that the Kentuckian never touched a drop of "Demon Rum" except for one memorable occasion. He got roaring drunk, stole a horse and buggy, and raced down the main street of Arlington, Kentucky, all the while singing at the top of his lungs the song, "There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight!" For the rest of his life he was known as "Hot Time."
The story goes that the Kentuckian never touched a drop of "Demon Rum" except for one memorable occasion. He got roaring drunk, stole a horse and buggy, and raced down the main street of Arlington, Kentucky, all the while singing at the top of his lungs the song, "There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight!" For the rest of his life he was known as "Hot Time." oOne night and a reputation for a lifetime! It wasn't fair to call him "Hot Time" all his life, nor is it fair to keep on saying, "Doubting Thomas" for one request on one night.
One night and a reputation for a lifetime! It wasn't fair to call him "Hot Time" all his life, nor is it fair to keep on saying, "Doubting Thomas" for one request on one night.-The Eastern Orthodox Church on the other hand laud Thomas rather than remember his questioning because he said to Christ, “My Lord and my God.” He was the first to actually call Jesus, God, not just the Son of God. This is really how this saint ought to be remembered.
The Eastern Orthodox Church on the other hand laud Thomas rather than remember his questioning because he said to Christ, “My Lord and my God.” He was the first to actually call Jesus, God, not just the Son of God. This is really how this saint ought to be remembered.-Faith is a function of struggle and doubt
Faith is a function of struggle and doubt-Saint Anselm was quoted as saying, “I believe in order that I might see.” For without faith, no evidence is sufficient; with faith, no evidence is necessary.
Saint Anselm was quoted as saying, “I believe in order that I might see.” For without faith, no evidence is sufficient; with faith, no evidence is necessary.-Now Jesus’ response to Thomas in today’s Gospel makes sense for all us in the here and now: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Now Jesus’ response to Thomas in today’s Gospel makes sense for all us in the here and now: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”oSeeing is not necessarily believing either. I remember when in high school we took a field trip to the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown, New York (the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame) to see the great hoax, The Cardiff Giant. Back in 1869, it was seen by many people for a fee of 50₵ and many believed that this 10 foot clay replica of a human being was truly alive at one time. After all, the Bible speaks of giants in the Old Testament. Yet I saw it and didn’t believe!
Seeing is not necessarily believing either. I remember when in high school we took a field trip to the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown, New York (the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame) to see the great hoax, The Cardiff Giant. Back in 1869, it was seen by many people for a fee of 50₵ and many believed that this 10 foot clay replica of a human being was truly alive at one time. After all, the Bible speaks of giants in the Old Testament. Yet I saw it and didn’t believe!-Coming to believe implies a process, and a process takes time. A seed it often planted by a Christian witness in the heart of another, but it may take years before it sprouts. These things must take place in God’s time, in kairos time, or as the hymn says, “In his time, in his time, he makes all things beautiful in his time…”
Coming to believe implies a process, and a process takes time. A seed it often planted by a Christian witness in the heart of another, but it may take years before it sprouts. These things must take place in God’s time, in kairos time, or as the hymn says, “In his time, in his time, he makes all things beautiful in his time…”oFaith takes time.
Faith takes time. If the women at the tomb were the world’s first Evangelists, Thomas was its first seeker following the Resurrection.
-He is quoted as saying earlier in the Gospel of John in response to Jesus’ going away, “Lord we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
He is quoted as saying earlier in the Gospel of John in response to Jesus’ going away, “Lord we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” oJesus then responded with that eternal line, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Jesus then responded with that eternal line, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”-In this life, we are all doubters of sorts from time to time. It’s cyclical thing for many, and in the process of seeking, we look for signs.
In this life, we are all doubters of sorts from time to time. It’s cyclical thing for many, and in the process of seeking, we look for signs.-The Gospel of John is full of such signs (and wonders) which the other three Gospels refer to as miracles. I believe we are given such signs today, and these are provided by God to help us keep the faith, to strengthen the faith, to spread the faith.
The Gospel of John is full of such signs (and wonders) which the other three Gospels refer to as miracles. I believe we are given such signs today, and these are provided by God to help us keep the faith, to strengthen the faith, to spread the faith. -Oftentimes following a great uplifting event, like for example Holy Week, there is a down period, and at those times the devil is quite present, seeking for someone to tempt and devour. Also present of course is the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels. At these perilous moments, our faith is tested.
Oftentimes following a great uplifting event, like for example Holy Week, there is a down period, and at those times the devil is quite present, seeking for someone to tempt and devour. Also present of course is the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels. At these perilous moments, our faith is tested. oI cite for example my favorite Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah. “Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!....Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?”
I cite for example my favorite Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah. “Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!....Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?”oHe too had his down days, and so did Moses, Job, the writers of the Psalms, and countless other saints, saints like yourselves.
He too had his down days, and so did Moses, Job, the writers of the Psalms, and countless other saints, saints like yourselves.God always comes to the rescue, as in the comforting words of today’s 16th Psalm. “Because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. My heart is glad, my spirit rejoices and my body shall rest in hope.” God provides comforting signs to help us along the way as he shows us the path of life. For example, when you may have been in a trying situation and you needed guidance and help and weren’t sure which way to turn, if at that moment something came along that reinforced your choice, you’d say that was a good sign or omen of hope.
-Recently, I received my IRS refund and it was for the exact amount that I had pledged to the Diocesan Crossroads Campaign. I took that as a positive sign, a good sign.
Recently, I received my IRS refund and it was for the exact amount that I had pledged to the Diocesan Crossroads Campaign. I took that as a positive sign, a good sign.-Another occurred on my way to church for the Great Vigil of Easter. A single deer ran across the road in front of my car, and the thought came to mind of Psalm 42, “As the deer longs for the water-brooks, so longs my soul for you O, God.” We used Psalm 42 later that evening.
Another occurred on my way to church for the Great Vigil of Easter. A single deer ran across the road in front of my car, and the thought came to mind of Psalm 42, “As the deer longs for the water-brooks, so longs my soul for you O, God.” We used Psalm 42 later that evening.-As a chaplain at CRMC last week, I was asked to visit a lady in the SNF who was battling cancer and was undergoing a severe infection that would not go away. I told her about my late wife’s chronic infections and we prayed. She went home the next day.
As a chaplain at CRMC last week, I was asked to visit a lady in the SNF who was battling cancer and was undergoing a severe infection that would not go away. I told her about my late wife’s chronic infections and we prayed. She went home the next day. On this Thomas Sunday, I think it is a good reminder that you might seek a divine sign to stimulate your faith, or to help you contend with a difficult situation. Thomas was a good and faithful disciple and apostle. We take to heart our Lord’s charge to all of us when he told Thomas, “Do not doubt but believe.”
-Look for example at the terrible, on-going situation in parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia following the 150 or so tornadoes that touched down this past week. Almost 350 are dead; many are wounded; the damage is in the billions in the second-deadliest single day tornado outbreak in U.S. history. Lord, give us a sign!
Look for example at the terrible, on-going situation in parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia following the 150 or so tornadoes that touched down this past week. Almost 350 are dead; many are wounded; the damage is in the billions in the second-deadliest single day tornado outbreak in U.S. history. Lord, give us a sign!-You may already have heard some of the miracle stories; the boy who was blown hundreds of feet away and found alive; Tillman Merritt heard a voice inside his head say, “Go to the closet, go to the closet.” He was spared but his three friends were sucked out and killed. In other areas, some who went to a closet were killed there.
You may already have heard some of the miracle stories; the boy who was blown hundreds of feet away and found alive; Tillman Merritt heard a voice inside his head say, “Go to the closet, go to the closet.” He was spared but his three friends were sucked out and killed. In other areas, some who went to a closet were killed there. -Jesus gives real peace in the midst of the storm. Three times in today’s Gospel he utters the phrase, “Peace be with you." That is a sure and certain sign for all time, for everyone. The Hebrew word shalom, for "peace," is a most comprehensive word, covering the full realm of relationships in daily life and expressing an ideal state of life. The word suggests the fullness of well-being and harmony untouched by ill-fortune. Shalom in the midst of chaos.
Jesus gives real peace in the midst of the storm. Three times in today’s Gospel he utters the phrase, “Peace be with you." That is a sure and certain sign for all time, for everyone. The Hebrew word shalom, for "peace," is a most comprehensive word, covering the full realm of relationships in daily life and expressing an ideal state of life. The word suggests the fullness of well-being and harmony untouched by ill-fortune. Shalom in the midst of chaos. -Somehow, the people of the Southeastern United States are experiencing this peace in the most profound and hard to imagine ways. But it is present because Easter happened. And it will remain with them in the massive clean-up and reconstruction efforts because God is with us…Emmanuel. None of us knows when they are leaving the planet. We need to be ready by not doubting and believing in Jesus, that we may have hope and life in his holy and precious Name.
Somehow, the people of the Southeastern United States are experiencing this peace in the most profound and hard to imagine ways. But it is present because Easter happened. And it will remain with them in the massive clean-up and reconstruction efforts because God is with us…Emmanuel. None of us knows when they are leaving the planet. We need to be ready by not doubting and believing in Jesus, that we may have hope and life in his holy and precious Name. AMEN
