Resurrection Strength

Even the disciples who lived with Jesus while he was on earth had a hard time trusting the news of the Resurrection at first. Their friends who firstx saw the Risen Jesus couldn’t convince them that he was alive. They were only convinced by meeting Jesus.

In Mark 16:14 we read, “ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”

There is a verse by an unknown author that says

Doubt sees the obstacles
faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night
Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step
Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions ‘who believes?’
Faith answers, ‘I.’

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stumbled, 

then looked down and taken my eyes off God. 

It can happen in an instant.

And once you’re looking down, you really get a good look at those rocks. They’re sharp and jagged. They’re everywhere. You’re not even sure how you got this far…but looking at these rocks now, and looking just a short distance ahead, it’s just more of the same.

Suddenly, doubt and despair fills your heart to the extent that you can’t even move. You’re paralysed by them. Why would you want to go through more of this?

Yet as Paul put it, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Do you recall when Thomas finally met the Risen Lord how Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

We well may ask how do I respond to Thomas? With laughter, scorn, sympathy or fellow-feeling? If we follow through the scene with Thomas, we might learn much about faith and about ourselves. We see that Thomas lacked faith in his brothers and sisters. His independent mindedness refused to accept their word, wanting to reach his own conclusions for himself. If I am to be a Christian I am called to belong to others - to grow in trust of them if I am to grow in faith in God.

Spirit of Christ, we, who like to think we are reasonable people of scientific bent, thank you for the gift of blind faith. It is there where we can no longer see but stand bemused and hope-less, you come to our side and give us the courage to leap across a love-gulf so deep that is separates despair from joy.

Spirit of Christ, stand by us today that we may again leap where reason fears to tread and to love where ego stalls. Amen