Loading...
The Citizen, 2018-04-12, Page 24THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018. PAGE 25. From the Minister's Study Jesus brings us peace, reassurance, strength By Rev. JoAnn Todd Trinity & St. John's Anglican Churches This coming Sunday, many churches that follow the revised common lectionary will read the "Doubting Thomas" story from John's gospel (chapter 20 verses 19- 31). To put this story into full perspective, we need to revisit the Sunday morning of Jesus' resurrection, and all that happened on that day. Of significance, as recorded in all four gospels, it is to the women disciples that Jesus first reveals himself in his risen state. Women were integral to Jesus' ministry! In John's gospel, it is Mary Magdalene who first sees Jesus, at the tomb. Initially, she doesn't recognize him. It's only when Jesus calls her by name that she recognizes him. At Jesus' request, she quickly goes and tells the other disciples that she has seen the Lord. So, you could say the men get the heads -up from Mary. Now, whether they believe her or not, we don't really know. John doesn't say, but they've been forewarned, you could say. The men are locked away in hiding, in fear of what the authorities may do to them. Later that same evening, Jesus just turns up. He just appears, in the locked room, greets them and then shows them His wounds, so they see it is He. And of course they believe—what better evidence do you need—seeing is believing! And then Jesus breathes upon them, filling them with His Holy Spirit! Imagine their elation— the Lord is risen, He is risen indeed! Now Thomas, he wasn't there when all this goes down. And when he joins them later in the evening and the others tell him "We have seen the Lord!" Thomas is skeptical, maybe wondering if they'd gotten into the wine while he was gone! He says to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His side, I will not believe." And truly, you can't blame him for not believing them. I think Thomas' skepticism is understandable, given the situation. Jesus' being alive went against any law of nature. There was nothing more that they all wanted than to have Jesus be alive. They were devastated and lost by Jesus' death; they don't know what to do now without Him to lead them. They are fearful. But unless Thomas sees for himself, he's not going to be taken in; because if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is — except when it comes to God's love! God is the exception to that rule. #1 And We Still Try Harder Recent circulation figures show The Citizen has the highest circulation in the northern part of Huron County, #3 in the entire county. The Citizen Proudly Community -Owned Since 1985 God's grace and love go beyond anything we can ever think humanly possible, because God's immensity is beyond anything we, with our limited human perceptions, can ever imagine! Jesus, out of his love for humanity, knowingly and willingly went through the whole Good Friday horrid experience, knowing that He would rise again and return to His disciples. Out of death is new life. God and God's love in Christ reigns supreme! And a week later, Thomas too comes to understand that, when Jesus once again returns to the group, again behind locked doors. And again Jesus says "Peace be with you", in other words "You don't need to be afraid, yes Thomas, it's me. And look, here are my wounds; do you need to touch to be sure? Stop doubting and believe." It seems Thomas doesn't need to do that. John doesn't tell us he touches Jesus in any way, even though over the years we have many artists' renderings showing him touching the wound in His side. What does Thomas do? What is his reaction? He says without hesitation, "My Lord and my God." And the sensibly skeptical Thomas believes. I think Thomas has gotten a bit of a bum rap all these years, calling him "doubting" Thomas. I like Thomas. He's the one who is not afraid to step up, to put words to concerns that the others can't or won't. Remember, when Jesus said He was going to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead? The disciples warned Him not to go because the last time Jesus was in Bethany the people tried to stone Him to death. And what does Thomas say? "Well guys, if He's going, let's us go and die with Him" He understands Jesus needs to go, and supports Him, encourages the others to support Him, even if he's not 100 per cent certain just why Jesus needs to go. Now, that's faith. BRUSSELS United Church Welcome to Sunday morning worship & Sunday School at 11:00 am Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386 Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com Everyone welcome ■ The Regional Ministry of Hope Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church BLYTH BRUSSELS cS. 9:15 am 11:15am MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope COME WORSHIP WITH US! AN INVITATION TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE A New Sermon Series Beginning Sunday April 15th at HURON CHAPEL Every Sunday in Auburn at 9am & 11am huronchapel.com Blyth United Church Est. 1875 A MENESETUNG p Sunday, April 15 9:30 a.m. Worship Leaders: Mary and Clayton Ross Directors of Camp Menesetung ee audii eatnp,MirciaGu�! Hillary MacDonald OFFICE: 519-523-4224 And weeks later, after He has risen again, Jesus offers Himself to Thomas to provide him with the reassurance that he needed. From doubt comes faith. When we are unsure of what we need to do, what direction to go, what decisions to make, what to believe, we need to put voice to that, we need to look to Jesus' life for answers, for direction for our lives, for our purpose in life, individually, and as a larger church community. It is in the asking, in the questioning, in the doubting that Jesus responds to us! When we are unsure, when we doubt, we need to pray, and then 7(qR re inl'ite(I 7, 7oirl ?1s SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service listen for that still small voice that brings us the answers. Then look around and see the grace of God— God's grace is everywhere, when we have eyes to look for it and see it, and yes, believe. What more can we ask of Jesus, but to bring us his peace and the reassurance of his living presence in our lives, to help us find the way, His way? And strengthened by our faith, we know we can step out boldly, because when we do the work of Jesus, we are empowered by the Spirit of Jesus. Peace be with you! 7'11 tGT:s/u/7 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH tMinister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen _ Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, APRIL 15 We invite you to join our church fami.y in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 You're Invited to come worship with us Sunday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Winaham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.