Sunday Worship 24.4.22

 Sunday Worship

Image courtesy of Good News Productions International

Welcome to our Sunday worship. Today we hold our Annual Parochial Church meeting, so we have a 10 am Parish Eucharist at St Thomas' Church, and there is no service at St Agnes'.

If you're unable to be with us in person, you'll find today's Gospel, a short reflection, and a prayer below.

Our first hymn this morning is "Now the Green Blade Riseth"

Today's Gospel

John 20:19-31                 Jesus Appears to His Disciples     

 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But 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."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

Poor Thomas, doubting Thomas, I have to say I feel a bit sorry for him. He often gets pretty bad press, which is a bit unfair, after all he was only asking to see the same as the other disciples had seen. 

And what of the other disciples? Were they any better? They had learned that Jesus had risen from the dead. There were the accounts of Mary and the and the other women who went to the tomb on Easter morn and also Cleopas and Simon who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. So why were they huddled down, locked away and hiding from the Jews?

In Luke’s version of this event, we are told that when Jesus appeared, “They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” We do not know how Jesus appeared, probably not in the proverbial ‘puff of smoke’ or a shimmering glow of lights being beamed into the room like a character from Star Trek, but it is clear, that however it happened, it took them by surprise and it seems were initially as sceptical as Thomas.

For St. Thomas, this encounter was to be the starting point for his own ministry as he travelled to India preaching the Good News of Jesus risen. It was there where he was killed by spears from 5 soldiers – he was martyred because of his faith and mission to share the news of Christ who died for us all – The Risen Lord who promises eternal life. He was martyred for the strength of his belief not because he once doubted.

For ourselves, we are asked to believe that same Good News based not on the evidence of our own eyes but on the testimony of those who were there that has been handled down over 2 millennia. There are no doubt times when we too might have our own doubts, especially when times are difficult; when we are suffering, frightened, lonely or overwhelmed with our own issues. But it is in these very times of darkness or trouble that Jesus can show up and enter the locked room of our lives and problems if we are willing to let him in. Because through our trust and belief in Jesus we can unlock our own doors and go forward with Him as our saviour and guide. For as Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."      Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that even when we doubt You or our faith is challenged,

You remain faithful to Your promise 

that whosoever believes in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins 

will not perish but have everlasting life. 

Thank You in Jesus' holy name, 

AMEN

Our final hymn today is "Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord"