Jesus' Show and Tell

~~~ Divine Mercy ~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~

~~~ REV 1:9-11A, 12-13, 17-19 ~~~ John 20:19-31 ~~~

 “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

The disciples locked themselves in a secluded room.

because they were afraid of the Jews.

Jesus knew that if they camped out in that room

they would be controlled by their fears.

He could not allow that to happen.

So Jesus finds them and brings them his peace.

Jesus appears in this locked room where 

the disciples thought they were safe.

He wastes no time in calming their fears with his peace.

...he breathed on them and said to them,

"Receive the Holy Spirit..."

They are confirmed in this blessing from Jesus.

It is the Holy Spirit that will give them the 

courage needed to leave that room.

But Jesus still had one issue to deal with;

Thomas. 

Thomas wanted to believe the others 

as they shared their sightings of Jesus,

but could not.

Thomas, for whatever reason, was not locked

 in the room with the others.

We do not know where he was at the time.

We do not know if he too was afraid of the Jews.

Maybe he was the only one who had 

the courage to be among the locals.

Maybe he returned to his former life 

thinking it was business as usual.

Maybe he believed Jesus was really gone.

Maybe he thought the others created a vision of Jesus,

because they missed him so much.

Just maybe it was all in their head.

It is not unusual, after losing a loved one,

 that you notice other people that seem to be 'look a likes'. 

“Have you come to believe because 

you have seen me?

Blessed are those who 

have not seen and have believed.”

A week later Jesus comes again to this locked room;

this time Thomas was with the others.

Does Jesus come back only for Thomas?

Does Jesus come back because they all need another

inoculation of the Holy Spirit?

Perhaps it is a combination of both reasons.

Yes Thomas did want to see and feel.

But the others needed to witness

 just how much Jesus cared for Thomas too.

These things are recorded for our sake.

We are the ones who missed the Jesus 'show and tell'.

We are the ones who now must believe without seeing.

We are the ones who now reflect 

on what happened in the looked room.

...these are written that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

This is recorded for you and me.

Today we can choose to hear this 

Gospel as just another story

or as proof that through

 believing in the Resurrection

 we too may have life in his name.

...do not be unbelieving, but believe...

Words spoken today for us.

If you believe then you will tell others.

Divine Mercy Sunday

is the wonderful time to deepen your beliefs.

Once again Jesus showed himself 

through one of his beloved.

Peace be with you!

~Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia~

Body of Evidence

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 3:11-26 ~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~

~~~ Luke 24:35-48 ~~~

Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.

Touch me and see, because a ghost does not 

have flesh and bones as you can see I have.

Is is not surprising that the disciples 

would be afraid by the appearance of the Risen Jesus.

We do not believe our own eyes when we 

witness something that seems impossible.

Those who loved Jesus saw his brutal crucifixion and death.

Yes, he did tell them that on the third day he 

would be raised from the dead,

but they did not understand the meaning.

When he appears to them at first

 they believe they are seeing a ghost.

There had been some other witnesses but still

 they were reluctant to believe.

It seems the burden of proof was on Jesus.

And so he makes several post Resurrection appearances.

He wants them to have the first hand knowledge

 that he really was back.

Jesus testifies on his own behalf.

His own body is the evidence he offers to his friends.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Jesus opened their minds and hearts to 

understand his previous words.

Jesus is his own defense attorney...

Jesus gives his own testimony...

Jesus gives his evidence...

Jesus stands before them as proof.

His glorified body still bears the nail marks.

His glorified body still reveals the mark of the lance.

And for those who were still skeptical

he eats a piece of baked fish.

Now they all believe because a ghost cannot eat food.

Touch me and see...

Jesus goes out of his way to convince

 them he really was raised from the dead.

He really did conquer death...

If he can break the chains of death

 then forgiving the sins of the whole world is possible.

Dying from life as we know it seems very permanent...final.

Jesus has a message for all of us...

he has overcome death so that he can bring us to heaven.

He wants us to be with him for all of eternity.

Death is not final...

death is a shift in perceived reality.

Jesus was no magician.

He was not trying to fool the disciples with an illusion.

He was there with them.

They could see him, hear him, feel him, 

talk with him, and share their food with him.

They could finally experience the great

 truth of his promise.

While they were still incredulous for joy

 and were amazed...

He is just as real today.

He is just as present today.

He is just as alive today.

Come close enough to touch and see

 the marks on his body.

He will Bless you with

 an opened mind to better understand.

~~~ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! ~~~

“Peace be with you.”

Let Jesus Open Your Mind

~~~ Acts 3: 11-26 ~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~ Luke 24: 35-48 ~~~

Peter is not mincing his words during this sermon. He accuses the Israelites of ignoring all of the words of the prophets. “...The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.” Peter finally says after he calms down, but I know you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did.”

In other words you still have a chance to make things right with your God. Even if you make a mistake and follow the wrong person; once you discover this you can still repent and be converted.

These are the very people God made his covenant with through Abraham and Moses. He is appealing to their understanding of their own heritage...don’t you get it?

You are the chosen people from ancient times.

Jesus extended peace to the disciples, standing in their midst, while the two from Emmaus are excitedly sharing how they ‘recognized him in the breaking of the bread’.

I think so often we are fearful when we recognize God is working in our lives. Questions do arise within our hearts. Maybe we are fine where we are and the thought of something different is unsettling. Our plans are often not God's plans for us.

Jesus invites them to touch him. He wants them to know without a doubt that it really is him. It is not a ghost they are creating in their mind, but it is him. While they are still catching their breath he asks for something to eat. He eats and confirms for them the truths written by the prophets long before.

Then Jesus does something remarkable, but yet something we can also pray for today... “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” They had this huge AHA! Suddenly their questions were no longer unanswered. They could see with new vision. Jesus was giving them this blessing, because of their faithfulness. They became first person witnesses to the fulfillment of the scriptural promises.

Amazing Grace!!

They had first hand confirmation of his resurrection. They once again touched him and ate with him. This is one of several post resurrection appearances made by Jesus. He was assuring his beloved followers that there would be no questions or any doubt about the resurrection.

They had made the sorrowful journey to Golgotha with him and now

they are included in the magnificence of his Resurrection.

What you have seen with your own eyes,

touched with your own fingers,

and heard with your own ears can never be taken away from you.

These experiences with Jesus permanently imprinted  upon their hearts.

They went out to spread the good news.

The prophets were indeed inspired by God through their words.

What is imprinted upon your heart?