It’s the first Sunday after Easter. The reading for the day is the story of Thomas, called the “Twin,” in Greek. The event that we read about is usually termed as “Doubting Thomas,” because he did not believe that Jesus had been raised from the dad. But if you read the story more closely, you realize that even after the other men had seen Jesus the night of his Resurrection, they were still afraid, staying in a locked house.
Isn’t this how many of us live? In locked houses, moving with trepidation. Now, we don’t face what those early believers faced, to be sure, but we still feel the need to protect what we call our interests, which really means our place in the world and, oh yes, our possessions, our property interests.
Shouldn’t we be having other interests at heart? We feel we do, for we give money to programs we care about, whether to alleviate poverty, protect the environment, or for social change. But more of us is demanded. The question for us is how we respond to the demands of our faith beyond declaring, as did Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”
Prayer for the Day
You call us, O God, to be your witnesses in the world,
But we sometimes feel your demands are too great;
You call us, O Lord, to care for the outcast of the world,
But we sometimes feel our own resources are strained.
Grant that we live our Easter faith as did many others,
And work for a world where there is neither war or hunger.
In the name of the One who is our model,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the day
The central question of public theology is always what God requires of us, no matter who is in charge. Throughout history clergy have been accused of being “too political” in times and places where political leaders did not want to have to deal with the challenge our moral traditions offer.
Rev. William Barber, organizer of “Moral Monday” demonstrations
Our faith is stronger than death, our philosophy is firmer than flesh, and the spread of the Kingdom of God upon the earth is more sublime and compelling.
Dorothy Day, American theologian and activist (1897-1980)
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you have done it to me.
Matthew 25:40
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