He is risen, he is not here

Saturday April 5th, John 20: 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." I love this story; it is after all so human. Thomas was the only one who dared to be out of the room when Jesus came the first time, now he is the scapegoat for what they were feeling before Jesus came to them. How often we project our issues on others. How often we look for scapegoats to take the heat off what we should be doing. Jesus had sent the disciples out a week ago, now Thomas gets the rap for doubting. We too look for scapegoats to avoid what we should be doing. We too look for reasons, out there, why we are avoiding doing the ministry we are called to do. Come to church to celebrate Christ’s work through you and others in the world, don’t come to find him, he is risen, he is not here.