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Tuesday, April 28

Today’s Readings: Psalm 109; Daniel 4:19-27; John 20:24-31; 2 Timothy 1:15-2:13; Psalm 90

Featured Reading:
John 20:24-31

The other evening at the first confirmation class for the youth in our faith community, we looked at the two creation stories contained in Genesis (Genesis 1:1-2:3 and Genesis 2:4-14). In looking at the two accounts side by side, we examined the differences between each account and discussed how these differences reflect different theological assumptions made about the process of creation. The differences between the stories provided us with a rich opportunity to explore different understandings of the nature of God. In today’s passage from the Gospel of John, I almost wish we had a second telling of the story to go alongside the first. Why is that? Because a part of me struggles with the only reason the author of John’s Gospel gives for Jesus’ offer to let Thomas feel his wounds. The author wrote: “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it” (John20:30-31 from The Message). So what other reasons might a second telling of the story offer in order to explain Jesus’ offer? I would hope that it would tell us that part of Jesus motivation was born out of concern for Thomas – an associate and friend who was struggling to come to terms with what had happened. Such a telling of the story would balance the need for proof with a sense of compassion. If you were to tell Thomas’ story, given the Jesus that you have come to know on your faith journey, how would you explain Jesus’ motivation for his offer to Thomas? Til next time…

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