John 20:19-31
Look, touch, see, feel, I love these words. They don't condemn. They don't say Jesus was never crucified, he never suffered. It's look, touch, see, feel what I've been through.
We have been cooped up in houses now for four weeks and it looks like there is no end in sight. What looked like fun for introverts, has turned into how do I not go stir crazy. There are calls for things to go back to normal, but the thing is, normal has totally changed.
Our safe ground has been shaken and like disciples hiding in an upper room for fear, we now know what this scripture means. Just like they were lost and grieving, so are we. Everyone has lost something in this, our view of being safe, in control. Maybe it's been even less subtle, our job, our income, a friend, or a loved one and we couldn't be by their side. Look, see, feel, touch we need to allow ourselves the room to grieve.
Grieving is not pretty, grieving means we need to be vulnerable, it means we need to admit our weakness. This is the whole point of this scripture today. Thomas' vulnerability was in his strong words, I won't, not unless I can touch, see, feel. He asks to feel and this is why he has been brought to his knees. I have been through many discussions on this grieving the past two weeks. This is not something we are going to go through and not be marked in some way. We need to admit the ways we have been and be able to tell this story.
Another place in John Jesus tells us how interconnected we are. Because Jesus is in the Father and we are in Jesus we remain, by the Spirit, within this circle of love, healing. We need to open ourselves to this power of healing. One of the ways this became helpful was in talking about ritual. As Episcopalians we are used to ritual, we even make rituals for things which never existed before. While we are separated one from another and from the act of receiving communion there have been new prayers I've seen which were written for those who grieve the separation from communion. The words help us to touch and feel this wound.
"We thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen."
We have the gift of ritual in the Old Testament lament scriptures. Make your own ritual. Don't avoid asking to feel, touch, see, and look at the loss in our lives. Mourn it, lament it, and don't be afraid, and maybe just be brought to your knees so, like Thomas we may find Jesus in the midst of it.
Look, touch, see, feel, I love these words. They don't condemn. They don't say Jesus was never crucified, he never suffered. It's look, touch, see, feel what I've been through.
We have been cooped up in houses now for four weeks and it looks like there is no end in sight. What looked like fun for introverts, has turned into how do I not go stir crazy. There are calls for things to go back to normal, but the thing is, normal has totally changed.
Our safe ground has been shaken and like disciples hiding in an upper room for fear, we now know what this scripture means. Just like they were lost and grieving, so are we. Everyone has lost something in this, our view of being safe, in control. Maybe it's been even less subtle, our job, our income, a friend, or a loved one and we couldn't be by their side. Look, see, feel, touch we need to allow ourselves the room to grieve.
Grieving is not pretty, grieving means we need to be vulnerable, it means we need to admit our weakness. This is the whole point of this scripture today. Thomas' vulnerability was in his strong words, I won't, not unless I can touch, see, feel. He asks to feel and this is why he has been brought to his knees. I have been through many discussions on this grieving the past two weeks. This is not something we are going to go through and not be marked in some way. We need to admit the ways we have been and be able to tell this story.
Another place in John Jesus tells us how interconnected we are. Because Jesus is in the Father and we are in Jesus we remain, by the Spirit, within this circle of love, healing. We need to open ourselves to this power of healing. One of the ways this became helpful was in talking about ritual. As Episcopalians we are used to ritual, we even make rituals for things which never existed before. While we are separated one from another and from the act of receiving communion there have been new prayers I've seen which were written for those who grieve the separation from communion. The words help us to touch and feel this wound.
"We thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen."
We have the gift of ritual in the Old Testament lament scriptures. Make your own ritual. Don't avoid asking to feel, touch, see, and look at the loss in our lives. Mourn it, lament it, and don't be afraid, and maybe just be brought to your knees so, like Thomas we may find Jesus in the midst of it.
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