St. Clement's by-the-Sea

Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

This Sunday we hear the story of Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance to his disciples. Although they heard from the women who found the tomb empty that Jesus had risen from the dead, the disciples hadn't seen him yet. I can't help but wonder -- if I were one of the disciples and my teacher -- Jesus -- appeared to me in a room that was locked to keep people out -- would I have fainted? Would I have screamed? What would I have done? We're told the disciples rejoiced -- I may have done that as well, but I think I would have fainted first.

There was one disciple who wasn't with the others -- Thomas. The disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus. Thomas refused to believe 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" Thomas told the disciples. Indeed, he had the opportunity to see Jesus about one week later -- and then believed. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" Jesus told Thomas.

We are the ones who are blessed to have not seen, but have come to believe. We don't have the opportunity to touch the resurrected Jesus' wounds. Yet, we believe -- we believe because we see around us the fruits of living a life of faith. We may not be able to SEE Jesus, but we can certainly feel his presence with us. As we celebrate the Eucharist each week, we make Christ present. We share in communion with him and with each other. This is one of the most wonderful "seeing" moments we can have together!

Diane+