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~

The Narrow Gate

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

~~Isaiah 66:18-21~~Psalm 117~~Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13~~Luke 13:22-30~~

 

Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, the light, the vine, the shepherd,

and today we are presented with the narrow gate and the door.

 

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.

 

To me these are such harsh words.

It is disappointing to think that at the end of your life you could find

yourself standing before the wrong door.

 

I believe the path to the narrow gate is wrought with obstacles.

Before you can pass through this narrow gate you must first reach it;

furthermore you must know it even exists.

 

I pray to have the stamina to continue on this path to the narrow gate.

I pray to be able to forge ahead in the face of temptations.

I pray to have the grace to avoid that which

would lead me on a misguided detour.

 

Jesus says many will attempt to enter this gate

 but not be strong enough...

Why will some not be strong enough?

 

Is it really easier to give in to sin

than to keep our eyes fixed of Jesus?

Apparently that is the case now and was even

 in the time of Jesus.

 

Perhaps we will not be strong enough to open the gate

 even if we find it.

Oh what a shame that would be.

 

Is this gate of heavy ornamental ironwork

or is it carved from the finest wood?

Why is it difficult to pass through?

Will it be locked? Will I need to have the key?

Of course Jesus does and always has had these answers.

 

I must strive to remain near to him so that I do have the required

 strength to pass through his gate.

 

 

Once through the gate apparently we are not yet home free.

Then we must get to the house only to find the door is closed and locked.

Really? After making it through the gate

there will be another challenge to overcome.

 

I pray that I will not be too weary from getting through the gate

 by the time I reach the door.

As I call out to Jesus from outside the locked door will he hear me?

Will he recognize me, as one he so wonderfully made?

The one he made in his image is asking to come inside...to come home.

 

I pray that I will not hear the words echoing from the closed door...

'I do not know where you are from.'

 

But Lord I beg you to let your child into your house.

I want to come home. I want to be with you.

 

Blessings in striving to pass through the narrow gate.

Never give up...trust in the Lord.

He will lead the way.

...for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines...