Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19 (NRSV))
At the end of the eight-mile hike to the top of Half-Dome in Yosemite National Park, we came face-to-face with the metal cables that would guide us to the top. Our whole group had hiked for hours, but when I finally saw the cables I refused to climb them, feeling it was dangerous and that I might fall 2000 feet to my death. Watching my friends climb to the top, I started to feel embarrassed. Then, someone came behind me and said, “I’ll go with you.” Our group leader had pulled back from the group to make sure that I would not be left behind or fall off the cables. I slowly made it to the top, and we celebrated at the summit.
In today’s reading — the account of Jesus’ appearing to his disciples after the Crucifixion — Thomas stubbornly refused to believe his friends’ testimony that they had seen Jesus. In doing so, Thomas separated himself from the rest of the group. Then, without warning, Jesus showed up.
In times of doubt, it can feel as if God is absent. But, like our group leader who helped me get up the cables, God comes to us even at the height of doubt. When we are ready to turn back, God whispers, “I’ll go with you.”
TODAY'S PRAYER: Loving God, thank you for your persistent love that brings you alongside us even in our difficult and painful moments of doubt. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: John 20:19 In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 20 Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord. 21 “Shalom aleikhem!” Yeshua repeated. “Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you.” 22 Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! 23 If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.”
24 Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. 25 When the other talmidimtold him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.”26 A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 27 Then he said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” 28 T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Even in my times of deepest doubt, God is present.
PRAYER FOCUS: Rock climbers
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