Believe! (Fourth Sunday of Easter year C - 8th May 2022)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER   Year C  May 8, 2022

• Acts 9:36-43  •   Psalm 23  •   Revelation 7:9-17  •   John 10:22-30

Last week we reflected on the encounter of Jesus with Saint Paul on the road to Damascus, and the encounter of Jesus with Saint Peter, being asked three times if he loved him.  Throughout the readings it seemed there was a question; What would we do if we were face to face with God?  Or what would our reaction be to an encounter with Jesus?  Certainly, an encounter begs some kind of response and some kind of change.  In fact, with Saint Paul and Saint Peter, life would never be the same again.  The encounter with Jesus set their life on a trajectory that transformed, not only themselves, but the entire world.

 

In today’s readings I am reminded of a David Meece song.  The words from the chorus are these; “You can heal the sick, you can raise the dead.  Turn the sea from a blue to a red.  It don’t matter what they hear or what they see, some people they never believe.”

 

I wonder what your thoughts were as we read about the lady in Joppa who died.  Tabitha was a good Christian lady and she had been dead long enough for the body to be washed.  In the Jewish tradition, Tabitha being female, means that the women would have washed her with myrrh and spices ready for burial, and dressed her in a simple white garment. There was a time of viewing and wailing that followed this.  In this time, knowing that Peter was near they call for him.  We read that they show Peter the clothes that she made for the poor and talked to him about her many good works.

 

Peter puts them all out of the room, kneels and prays.  Then Peter talks to the body and tells Tabitha to get up….  What’s more…. She does.   So… was she really dead?  

 

Jesus rose the dead on more than one occasion.  Jesus told his followers, these things and greater you will do.  Here we see Peter raise Tabitha back to life and we quite naturally ponder if she was really dead.  Why?  Because it isn’t a normal thing for someone to come back from the dead.  The fact that the writer of Acts tells us that Peter spoke to the body, indicates that even Peter knew that Tabitha was truly dead.  Also remember that the writer of the book of Acts was Luke…. A physician, who would have been more qualified than most to make these assessments.

 

We don’t know how old Tabitha was.  Certainly, that Peter helped her up might indicate that she wasn’t too young, but we actually have no clues as to her age.  We do know that she was actively engaged in life and giving  - therefore she was a well off lady who used her privileged life to assist those less privileged.  She died before her time.  God agreed and Peter’s prayers for her were answered.

 

In this modern age of Euthanasia, there is always a question about the value of life.  In the scriptures we are told in Psalm 116:14 “Grievous in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.”   We are also told in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.  For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”.   The line between mercy, what is natural, and destruction is a fine one that we won’t be debating today, except to note these things about how God sees us as precious, and this life we have, is a gift he gives to each of us.  I need to emphasis that the scripture is harsh about the consequences of destroying one’s life, but it is so, for the purpose of emphasising that we and our lives are precious to God.  Many would emphasize that eternal life is what counts the most, and they are correct, but our physical life is also a gift from God and therefore worthy of our care.

 

In the light of this, we have the story of Tabitha…. Who died of natural causes, and her life was precious to God.  Peter prayed and she rose to life.  All our lives are precious to God, but our experiences of death and what seems to be unanswered prayers cause many questions.

 

My late husband, Joe, died from cancer.  Many were praying for him, yet he died.  Let me tell you a little about the journey;  First there were the numerous people who wanted to sell us the latest herbal tablets sure to cure him.  Other people believed that juicing was the answer.  I looked up the internet for any clues and found that you could make a tea from paw-paw leaves – It was apparently quite revolting… but we tried.  We, of course, also prayed, and listened to doctors and he had Chemotherapy and radiation.  We were very much in denial and striving to continue as much of normal life as possible.  We planned for the future and thought there would be a whole lot more of it.  There is this whole attitude of, “We’ll fight this thing.”  But as you know, for us, it was to no avail.

 

My experience is not everyone’s experience.  Even though Joe died, I still believe in miracles and that God can and does heal.  I don’t understand why some are taken, and I don’t know why some prayers seem to be unanswered or answered in the negative.  I do know that those closest need our prayers because sometimes it is too big a burden to carry when you are close.

 

The friends of Tabitha were in mourning, but they called for Peter.  I don’t know if they expected this miracle or just for him to pay his respects.  One thing is for certain, mourning should be shared…. Needs to be shared.

 

Sadly, our modern church culture is not good at supporting mourning.  We are good for caring, up until the funeral, but then we expect people to get back into normal life.  We expect that as Christians we won’t mourn like others because we have hope in eternal life.  It is true we do have this hope, but mourning is not conditional on our belief.  The friends of Tabitha knew about eternal life, but they still were in deep mourning.

 

Our Psalm reading today is 23; The Lord is my shepherd.  Just as the Shepherd cares for, and keeps safe the sheep, our Lord and God cares for us and keeps us safe even into eternal life.  Though we walk through the valley of death…. Under that dark cloud that seems to hang heavy when we are in mourning, we are comforted by God’s provision.  God never asks the mourner to get over it and get on with life… but he restores our soul… The Psalm tells of the things that God does for us… not the things we do for ourselves.  We don’t have the power, but only God does. The sheep can’t save themselves… the shepherd saves them.

 

Peter prays to God and Tabitha is raised to life.  It is a miracle.  This is yet another miracle that gives credibility to the ministry of Peter and the message that he proclaims about Jesus Christ and eternal life.  I imagine that the early Christians must have felt incredibly encouraged by these miracles as they confirmed their new belief, which was being put under pressure constantly by persecutions, other beliefs and heresies.

 

The early Christians were believers, with complete and active faith in God, but there were many in Jesus time, who witnessed the miracles of Jesus and they didn’t believe.  Among those who didn’t believe were people who professed to be worshipers of God, the Pharisees, Sadducees and the traditional Jewish priests and temple members.

 

I have heard modern theologians who try to explain away the miracles of Jesus as if they are something natural.  Yet even the non-Christian historian, Josephus notes Jesus’ reputation for performing miracles.  I’d like to quote to you about this from an article:  “Near the end of the first century, Josephus, a Jewish historian, described Jesus as “a worker of amazing deeds” (Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3 §63). Most historians think that later Christian scribes added or rewrote portions of this passage in Josephus, but that he did write at least substantial elements of the passage, including this statement.¹ Josephus’s description of Jesus as having performed “amazing deeds” (paradoxōn ergon) does not use any of the stock Christian terms for miracles (mighty works, signs, wonders), as one would expect if a Christian had added or created this statement.” (retrieve on 1/05/22 from:  https://bib.irr.org/did-jesus-perform-miracles)

 

My point in all this is that, if we do not believe in the miracles of Jesus, we will find ourselves whitling away at our faith until there is nothing left.  In fact, our faith will die and be in need of a miraculous resurrection.  

 

At the time of our Gospel story, it was winter.  It was also the time of the festival of dedication of the temple.  This is actually the festival of Hannukah.  Hannukah is held each year on the 25th day of Kislev – a month in the Hebrew Calendar that falls somewhere between our November or December and it lasts for 8 days.  This Year Hannukah will fall on the 18^th of December and finish on the 26^th of December.  It is the story of the rededication of the temple after the temple had been desecrated. The Maccabees were a priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against the ruler Antiochus IV who tore down the sacred altar and built one in the temple to Zeus and sacrificed pigs on the altar.  At the time of the rededication the priests looked for oil to light the menorah (the sacred candles) and could only find a small amount to last for one day – but a miracle happened, and for eight whole days the menorah remained lit.

 

Miracles happen.  We can rationalize and hypothesize but if God is God, then miracles happen.  End of story!  I want to add most emphatically that our effort to believe does not create a miracle.  It is not about the power of the mind creating a reality.  These miracles surprised people.  They mostly didn’t expect them – but they hoped and they knew that God could.  God is still in control and his will rules – but miracles happen.

 

We can choose to whittle away at our faith with intellectual musings explaining away a miracle until it is nothing, but we then become the Pharisees, having all the proof and choosing to not to see and never being sure.  God is God!  Jesus was raised from the dead.  He is living still.  He still performs miracles.

 

In this life there are trials and there are more to come.  Revelations tells us about those who’ve come through the great tribulation.  This is us.  Revelations says that those who’ve come through the time of trial are those whose robes have been washed clean by the blood of the lamb.  Our sins are forgiven and we have eternal life – we belong to God.  When Jesus walked the earth and wanted to prove that sins could be forgiven, he said to the lame man, get up and walk – and he did.  The miracle proved that Jesus had authority to forgive sin.  Believe that God is God, that miracles happen.  Keep praying for miracles.  Hard times are ahead and we need to be a people of faith who know beyond a shadow of doubt, the great power and authority of God.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER   Year C  May 1, 2022

• Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)  •   Psalm 30  •   Revelation 5:11-14  •   John 21:1-19

In 1995 Joan Osborne released a song onto the charts.  It was called, One of Us.  The lyrics began; “If God had a name, what would it be, and would you call it to his face?..”  The song posed many questions about what our reaction might be to an encounter with God.  In today’s readings we look at a couple of significant encounters with God, that of Saints Paul and Peter, who were stand out leaders in the establishment of Christianity.

 

Two of the most dramatic encounters with God are described in our readings.  But wait… did you notice that I said encounters with God?  This is true, but the encounters were actually with God the son.

 

Saint Paul, then known as Saul, was a very zealous pharisee.  He was dedicated to God, and he saw the movement of Jesus as a heresy for which he was prepared to spend his life in eradicating.  Saul had letters from the high priest which gave him permission to find the Christians and bring them bound to Jerusalem.  He was there at the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, holding the coats of those who did the stoning.

 

Along the road, as he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light flashed around him and he heard the voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

He didn’t recognise the voice…. He asked "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…”

 

What would be your reaction?  Imagine you are going on an expedition to stamp out a heresy and suddenly the central figure of that heresy appeared to you in this way.  Saul immediately realizes that he has been wrong all this time that he has been persecuting the Christians.  More than this, every time there is an encounter with God, it is not just for the benefit of the person who receives it, but it is for the benefit of all.  What this means is that Saint Paul’s encounter with Christ is for the benefit of us.  Not only did his conversion mean that the message spread more powerfully, but the encounter with God formed the theology of Saint Paul.  Firstly, notice that Jesus says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”?   What we do to each other, we do to Christ… we are the body of Christ….  It is Saint Paul who proclaimed that we are the body of Christ.  This teaching is in the letter to the Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians and Colossians.  It was a message we hear from Jesus in the Gospels, but this message was one that Saint Paul knew by heart because of his encounter with Christ.

 

For three days after the encounter Saint Paul ate and drank nothing.  He was in deep mourning as we might expect a person would be after realizing the damage that they had done in persecuting God himself.  We don’t realize that Saint Paul had other visions in this time that he was blinded, until we hear of God’s words to Ananias, who went and prayed for and baptised Saul.

 

Ananias was hesitant to go to Saul, but God was definite in the call.  Ananias’s response to the word of God, was “here I am” – he was available and willing to do God’s will, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t apprehensive about deliberately putting himself in the way of danger.

 

Saul was baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit and after recovering his sight and energy, immediately began to declare in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

Saint Paul encountered God and changed his name to Paul – Little!  He was a somebody as a pharisee.  As a follower of Christ, he declared himself to be little.   He was not little in the history of our faith, but his attitude of declaring himself to be little was a constant reminder of his encounter with Christ and how, in the body of Christ he was not the head.  We can learn from this too.  We are not the head.  Christ is the head and we are all the body and if one member hurts, we

 should all feel the pain.  If one member is in need, we should all be concerned to help where we can.

 

Those travelling with Saul also encountered God.  They heard the voice, but saw no one.  We don’t know what happened to them, but I expect their lives also changed that day.  As the words of the Joan Osbourn song says, “If seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints and all the prophets.”   For us today, what would change for us if we saw God face to face, or heard the voice?

 

Perhaps we might be like Saint Peter.  After all, we are church people and we already believe and follow Jesus.  Saint Peter knew Jesus as a human, but Saint Peter was Jesus greatest fan.  Saint Peter put his faith in Jesus long before the crucifixion and resurrection.  Saint Peter had a pretty unique relationship with God… but actually, we all do.  Saint Peter being Jesus’ biggest fan and greatest follower declared that he would never deny him.  But Peter did deny Christ… not once, or twice, but three times.  Three times in the Hebrew tradition was a contract.  It was a sure and done deal.  But Peter was so truly sorry and wept bitterly.  When Jesus rose, Peter was there ahead of the others, once again Jesus’ biggest fan.

 

How do we deal with our own failure towards God?  I have had the privilege of meeting a lady from Rockhampton many years ago.  I don’t know what it was that was in her past, but she confided that for many years she had dedicated herself to working for the church.  She went above and beyond because she loved God, but also because she had failed him.  In some hidden recess of her heart she was trying to make up for what she had done, but knew she couldn’t.  She hadn’t missed the message that Christ died for her sins, but she had sinned since being a Christian and felt that she was beyond forgiveness.  Christ died for our sins….  Past, present and future… they are all forgiven, but I imagine that Peter was like this lady.  He knew Jesus loved him, but he felt unworthy of restoration. This is what we do when we believe, but feel unworthy – we bury ourselves in being so busy that we don’t have time to dwell on the awful truth of our feelings.

 

If we can face our feelings, we will find them transformed in the light of the Gospel.  Notice how Jesus draws out the deep pain in Peter…. Very gently… and restores him fully.

 

In our Gospel we read that Jesus actually asks Peter three times if he loves him, but in the original language of the Bible there is more going on, as we only have one English word for love, but the language of the Bible uses two different words in this story.

 

As our encounter begins, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him more than “these”.  Who or what are “these”.  There are three possibilities; Did Peter love him more than his fishing career?  Did Peter love Jesus more than he loved the other disciples?  Or Did Peter love Jesus more than the other disciples loved Jesus. 

 

Many have put emphasis on the fish or career and implicate that we too must love Jesus more than our career, but this is not most likely what Jesus was asking….  Jesus actually blessed their fishing expedition and even Saint Paul continued in his tent making trade as he travelled proclaiming the Gospel.  His tent-making work meant that he was able to support himself and give the gift of the Gospel freely.  God does not require us to all quit our jobs and proclaim the Gospel, but he does want us to proclaim the Gospel as we go about our jobs. 

 

We are to love God with all our heart, mind and strength.  It is the first commandment, and the second is like it; to love others.  The two are closely united and those who proclaim that we must love God first, often do so with an ulterior motive to justify a lack of love for another.  Many times the way that people have come to faith is because they sensed the love of God through the way that someone loved them.  This love for others must be genuine. 

 

I have been to churches where there is an appearance of love, but the purpose of that love is simply to make you one of them.  So that you can become a church member.  This kind of love is fake and revolting.  Genuine love for others is something that Jesus commands and it seems unlikely that Jesus was asking Peter, do you love me more than you love these.  We must ensure our love for others is not conditional or measured, because God’s love isn’t. 

 

It seems clear to me that Jesus was asking Peter if Peter loved Jesus more than the other disciples loved Jesus.  Let me explain why…  In Peter’s life he had been the loud man of action, and where Jesus was concerned Peter had always made it clear that Peter was the one Jesus could rely on most.  But in this first question was a word for love, used by Jesus which is AGAPE – meaning the full and unconditional love of God.  Peter responds that he does love Jesus.  He doesn’t say whether it is more or less than the others, but the word Peter uses for love is not AGAPE, but Philos….  A friendship kind of love. 

In the second question Jesus lowers the bar a little and asks Peter again if he loves him, but doesn’t ask if he loves him more than the others.  This time Jesus uses the same word, AGAPE, and Peter responds exactly the same with the word PHILOS.  Peter has been truly humbled and, it would appear, doesn’t want to make big claims about his love.  He knows that his love was incomplete and that he denied Jesus – He knows that his love is fallible.  Peter really does love Jesus.  Peter is truly a friend of God, but now he knows that he caves under pressure – there is no big boasting anymore.

 

Finally, Jesus asks Peter a third time, but this time Jesus lowers the bar again and asks Peter if he loves him using the word PHILOS… friendship love.  I guess this rubbed salt into the wound and opened it right up.  Do we deny our friends?  But Peter responds that Jesus knows all things and knows that he loves him, using Philos again.  Peter is honest, but he also declares the sovereignty of Christ who knows all things.

 

After each question Peter is exhorted to feed God’s lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.  Regardless of where Peter is at and his limited love, God has a calling for Peter.

 

These encounters with God changed those who had the encounter.  They understood God because of these interactions and they understood God’s priorities.  These encounters not only changed those people who had the encounter but they also helped to shape our church.  Through these encounters we reap the benefit and understand some very important things; God loves us and will choose us as his people regardless of what we have done and regardless of some failing we have done while already knowing him.  Peter was not only forgiven, but his position of leadership was confirmed.

 

Something else we learn; Our own encounters with God are not for us alone.  Everything that God teaches us he wants us to share as his message is for all.  After all, we are the body of Christ – If one member receives a message, it is for the benefit of all.  Saint Paul was not a follower of Christ, but Christ came to him in a very dramatic way, post resurrection.  There is nothing to say that this will not happen to you too.  Saint Peter was a leader of Christ’s people and when he was put under pressure, he denied Christ.  But Jesus forgave him and restored him.  This Jesus will do for you too.

 

There is no other religion in the world that has a God like our God who loves and forgives us.  Who restores us and even lifts us up into positions of leadership – but know that both of these Saints suffered for their faith.  They knew that they would – they were told ahead of time and they both willingly proclaimed the truth of Jesus because that is what one does when faced with God and all his love and mercy.  But where are we in this story?  Are we waiting for the blinding light, living in busyness to hide our shame, or are we declaring the truth of God because we have also encountered the risen Christ?  Perhaps we are waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit with power to change our lives – but do we want that and what will we respond if we are presented with the fulness of the power of God?

Reflection Easter 2 C April 24 2022

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER   Year C   April 24, 2022

• Acts 5:27-32  •     Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150  •   Revelation 1:4-8  •   John 20:19-31 

We have just celebrated our most holy week.  For many people it is a great time to go camping… to reset our lives a little with rest.  For all Christians it is a most important commemoration, and for those from the more orthodox traditions, who’ve partaken in fasting of some kind – or given up something for Lent, we actually enter into that story of our salvation, feeling the story quite profoundly.  I believe that we do our children a huge disservice if we don’t encourage them to give up something for Lent – or take up doing something significant for Lent, because this helps them to connect with, and enter into the story of Christ.  My own most cherished memories of Easter as a child, are connected deeply with fasting on Good Friday – going to church at 3pm and then coming home to hot cross buns. I distinctly remember the sense of stillness each Good Friday.  It is always as if all of creation remembers that it is Good Friday and pauses with us as we recall the events.

 

It has been a lot of years since Christ walked the roads of Jerusalem.  If Thomas, who so loyally followed Christ was inclined to doubt the resurrection, how can we blame anyone today for doubting?

 

Why was Thomas not in the room when the others were?  Our Gospel begins by telling us that the disciples were in a locked room for fear of the Jews.  I have a crazy theory that Thomas was actually more faithful to Jesus and perhaps not there because he was less afraid.  Thomas, in the Gospel of John chapter 11, verse 16 says, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”  This was before the crucifixion when Jesus was going to raise Lazarus.  They knew that the Jews were plotting to kill Jesus.

 

This is simply my musings, but what is fact, is that Thomas was a true and loyal disciple.  He didn’t necessarily have the same “theological” understanding as the others, who also were lacking in their own understanding of the message of God… and there is something in that to ponder for us all.  Thomas was genuine in his relationship with Christ, but most importantly, he was not in the room when the others saw Christ.    

 

Remember, after the women saw Jesus, many still doubted.  It is probably good to have a healthy amount of scepticism.  So, let’s not be harsh with Thomas – or with others who are like him.

 

We live in an age when there are people who doubt everything.  The simplest example is covid.  So many and varied opinions about the virus and the vaccine.  So many conspiracy theories also.  In this day and age, on the internet, anyone can have their say about anything.  Many do!  Many do, deliberately, put out false information just to see how much power they have to cause confusion.  For this reason, platforms like facebook and twitter are being asked to filter information and sometimes posts are taken down as false news – and sometimes these platforms get it wrong.  False information is actually really dangerous and can cause much suffering and is causing suffering and a whole lot of anxiety.  Truth, and preserving it is important.

 

The message of our faith is vital.  Our very lives depend on it, as Christ died to bring us life – life eternal and abundant.  But how can we know that our faith is for real?  How can we know that we are putting our trust in something that is totally trustworthy?

 

For a start – for this reason, I believe it is important that we continue good traditions like fasting in Lent.  For this reason, I believe it is important that we involve our children in these traditions…. We pass the story on and we involve each other in the story of Jesus.  We don’t simply read the story.   We must become involved in it. ..AND we must involve others in the story also. Notice that Thomas is instructed to touch the wounds of Jesus.  Jesus didn’t chastise Thomas, but gave him what he needed.  To touch the wounds of Jesus today might mean caring for those in need.  Touching Jesus for us today, might mean becoming involved in a charity.  It might mean becoming a life-line counsellor.  For each of us the call is answered differently, but all of us are certainly called to touch the wounds of Jesus, remembering that what we do for the least of these we do for him – and in this way we will truly come to know that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and in believing in him, we will have life.

 

All that being said and done, it is important that we know exactly what it is that we believe and that it is worthy of our belief and our allegiance.  Our reading from Revelation tells us about the nature of Jesus, who was and is and is to come. 

 

You see there are levels in the story of our faith.  At a purely physical level there is the story of a man named Jesus who performed miracles and who was crucified.  This much is verified by non-Christian historians – and also that the body disappeared, his followers claiming that he rose from the dead.  Even the enemies of Christ admitted that the tomb was empty.  There are many very logical and rational reasons to believe in the resurrection.  For starters, the many eye witnesses who remained true to their story though persecuted and even put to death.

 

This leads us to the belief level of our faith story.  After we know the facts, we decide what we believe about those things that are not physical, but most likely true.  Many people believe that Jesus was an important person, even a prophet, miracle worker, and some believe he is who he claimed to be, but even the demons know who he is.

 

The important level in our faith, is to not just know the facts and believe in Jesus, but the important, vital aspect is the action level  - to join our lives to him and be united with him.  We believe in him, but we also accept him as our Lord and saviour.

 

Our first reading tells us about the apostles putting their faith into action.  They were preaching and healing in Jesus’ name and were warned by the authorities not to do so, however they continued, because they put their faith into action.  They were obeying God first and foremost. 

 

 

The Book of Revelations proclaims that Jesus is, was and is to come – the alpha and the omega.  In case you are wondering, this is a similar idea to the God who revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and declared himself to be I AM.  Jesus’ nature is divine.  He is one with the father and his nature is eternal.  Revelations explains what Jesus has done for us – He freed us from our sins by his blood.  Something we should never take for granted, forget or diminish.  The conclusion of the reading makes it very clear that the one who was, who is and who is to come is the ALMIGHTY.

 

Putting all our readings together we have faith being put into action in the first reading of the apostles before the council and the high priest.  We have an understanding about who Christ is and what he has done for us in our revelation reading, but the Gospel reading portrays the journey of faith and a group of frightened and doubting disciples.  How is it that such a frightened and fractured group become so transformed that they changed the course of our world?

 

It is definitely something worth pondering, as we currently are also a very fractured society and, in many ways, a frightened society.  To give an example of just how frightened and fractured we are; a few months ago, I had a conversation with a lady who didn’t like what was being taught in a high school.  I pointed her in the direction of petitions that she could sign.  “Oh, I will never do that!” she exclaimed.  She went on to explain that she didn’t want to take the chance that anyone would know what she was putting her name to.  How far have we fallen that we’ve become so inhibited & impotent?

 

But let’s go back to our Gospel story again and see what Jesus does with these frightened, fractured and doubting disciples, because in this is the key to courage, and becoming the effective people of God.

 

Firstly, notice that he showed the disciples his hands and his side.  He was reassuring them that he was not a Ghost, but his body had been resurrected.  Then Jesus breathes on them and urges them to receive the Holy Spirit.  The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, an ancient word for “breath” and also used to indicate “spirit”.  It is a word that has the basic meaning of “air in motion” – something necessary for life. 

 

In Old Testament times a prophet would present themselves to the community with an object and declare the word of God using that object to make their point.  Therefore, Jesus breathing on them was a prophetic sign accompanying his message to them.  He emphasizes definite link between the Holy Spirit and life.

 

Jesus then tells his disciples that if they forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, and if they retain the sins of any, they are retained.  This simply indicates our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and that with the power of the Holy Spirit to declare the Gospel, those who receive that Gospel are set free and forgiven, and those who refuse the Gospel are not forgiven, but their sins remain because they haven’t accepted the gift that Jesus offers.

 

In a particularly puzzling part of the Gospel, in both Matthew and Mark, there is a message about blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  It states that those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.  The reason is simply that those who resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit to receive the message of the Good News, can’t be forgiven because they have refused to believe.  And this is very different from our doubting Thomas and very different from those who genuinely struggle to comprehend the message of salvation.

 

In the breath of Jesus is life.  Although there are logical and rational reasons for faith, when all is said and done, spiritual life is a gift that is accepted as simply and as innately as breath. When we breathe we don’t actually think about it, but without it we have no life. Likewise the message of our salvation is not complete/ not alive, without the receiving of the Holy Spirit – there is a most important link here.

 

We are made in the image of God.  God who is the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, is a triune being.  So are we.  We are body, soul and spirit.  Spiritual life is when we receive the Holy Spirit.  But wait – there is more to this;

 

Our breath informs our body to live beyond the womb.  Likewise, the Holy Spirit informs our life to live beyond the grave, but also to live that life now.  The difference between a group of frightened, fractured disciples and those brave preachers who stood before the council and high priest is that they had received the Holy Spirit.  They operated, walked and worked in God’s life breath.

 

In this time, between resurrection and Pentecost, we realize that we need more than mere belief – we need to respond to this post resurrection message of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are called to enter into the story of faith, touching wounds. But in our own strength we are frightened, fractured and powerless.  The Gospel is incomplete and has no life unless we all heed the call of Jesus as he breathes on us today and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.