Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for April 3, 2016
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, c. 1601–1602. Oil on canvas, Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam, Berlin, Germany.
Jesus has died, Christ has risen! Jesus’ friends, filled with the Holy Spirit, are leading a movement. The apostles teach, they preach, and they perform miraculous healings, just as Jesus had done. The authorities, fearful that all this might attract unwanted Roman attention, aren’t any happier about this than they had been with Jesus. The high priest summons Peter and others for questioning, but Peter stands strong: God’s word, through Jesus – the one whom they had killed but who lives on at God’s right hand – overpowers mere human authority.
We chant, sing or read a Psalm just about every time we gather to worship. The 150 Psalms cover a range of emotions, from pleas for help to calls for God’s blessing to anguished songs of lamentation. Psalms beg forgiveness, express hope, even call down God’s wrath. But the most joyful Psalms sing God’s praise, and Psalm 150, the hymn of joy that ends the book, musters a virtual orchestra to proclaim God’s glory with flutes and harp, strings and cymbals. Sing out loud as we celebrate the resurrection today.
A week after Easter, we repeat much of last Sunday’s Psalm, underscoring its theme of joyful thanksgiving to God who protects us, brings us victory and becomes our salvation. Today we continue through the final verses, which turn from talking about God’s goodness to address God with loud hosannas, giving thanks for God’s favor and mercy. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,” we sing, in words that we will repeat when we sing the Sanctus in the Great Thanksgiving.
Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-8
Many Christians find Revelation hard to understand, even weird and scary, with its visions of lakes of fire, dragons, horsemen riding through rivers of blood … the number of the Beast! Today’s opening verses, however, give only a hint of the allegorical imagery to come. Originally addressed to the persecuted Christians of seven cities in what is now Turkey, it assures them that all are loved by Christ, “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” who will come and set us free.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
It’s easy to mock Thomas with the nickname, “Doubting Thomas,” that has stuck to him for 2,000 years. But remember that the other apostles doubted the women, too, when they came running back to report that Jesus had risen. Look at Thomas’ perspective: All his friends got to see Jesus and rejoice as he gave them the power of the Holy Spirit and empowered them to forgive sins. We don’t know why Thomas wasn’t there, but wouldn’t you be a little jealous and cranky, too, if you had missed out? Take note too that Jesus wasn’t angry with Thomas. Doubters or no, we all have life in Jesus’ name.