JOHN 20: 24-29 Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.
Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
A DOOR TO DISCOVERY (inspired by John 20: 24-29)
How strangely comforting, Lord,
That so many of your servants
Have doubted you.
So, if I cannot always see the sense of your Word;
If I do not always feel confident about my faith;
If I wonder where your love is
In the face of pain and death;
I am not the first.
A great company of saints and martyrs
Has felt this way before me.
Now, in your presence,
They see face to face
And know as they are known.
Teach me, like them,
Not so much to fear doubt
As to see it
As a sign of the mystery of life
And a door to discovery.
"More than Words", Saint Andrew Press 2008.
BREAKING+ENTERING ON THURSDAY
In the evening when the disciples meet,frightened behind locked doors;
You come with words of peace.
For plots have failed, the cruelty of the world has come to nothing, betrayal and denial have not prevailed.
Break-in and enter, “Thief in the Night” Messiah,into rooms where politicians meet, into board rooms where executives plan, into court rooms where lawyers debate,
Come with words of peace.
Into hospital rooms where people are worrying, into prison cells where the guilty and the innocent wait;into homes where people struggle
to make ends meet,
Come with words of peace.
Into lives of those for whom we care and worry despite the strong and solid doors we lock to protect ourselves and our loved ones,to shut out the world
Come with words of peace, that with you we may open doors and lives.
YOU COME TO US
in unexpected places,
in a crowded room,
on a journey along a dusty road,
in conversation,
in the stillness.
You come in the midst of our doubt, our fear, our sorrow.
You come in the power
of the resurrection.
No pain and suffering
is unknown to you.
You bring us peace,
and we pray for the places
where there is no peace;
Countries torn by war,
refugees seeking homes,
Prisoners facing torture
You bring peace;
Peace to the tensions
and conflicts within us.
To the regrets, the failure,
the broken relationships
The lost friendships
You bring peace;
for you are a friend to us
when we are alone,
when we are lonely
Unseen, you are there.
You bring us peace,
And we pray that we too
may become peacemakers.
Susan Miller.
As I travel the road of life, Jesus my Companion, walk beside me. As I fall into pot-holes, Jesus my Companion, raise me. As I baulk at the rough places, Jesus my Companion, encourage me. As I wander away from you, Jesus my Companion, lead me. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Jesus my Companion, enlighten me.
"Peace be with you," Jesus says to us in this room.
No doubt or fear can lock God out of our lives. "As the Father sent me, so I send you."
We rejoice in the confidence
and blessing of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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