Collect for Easter 2
1 Peter 1: 3-9
John 20: 19-31
You’ll have heard people tell you that they’ve ‘earned’ trust. Trust in you, trust in their leaders, trust in Jesus.
But that’s not how it works. In reality, trust can never be ‘earned’. I cannot insist that you should trust me, that I deserve your trust. We can’t tell people that they must trust Jesus, because He ‘earned’ their trust through His suffering and His cross. There’s no point in persuading them that they should – because even though they might say so, deep down, they probably won’t.
Trust is not ‘earned’. It can only be ‘awarded’. Doesn’t matter how much you think you should be trusted by someone – it’s entirely their choice, probably based on their perception, evidence and understanding, not of your words, but you behaviour and actions. You could say that ‘proof’, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
That’s Thomas in a nutshell. He’s heard the others describe what they saw – but rather than making a superficial commitment because they say so, he wants proof. When he receives it, he awards Jesus his future, whatever that may be.
Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Those who have not seen? Physically seen, like Thomas? No. But they have seen in a different way. It might be in the jaw-dropping beauty of creation. It may be that they have seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in the behaviours and actions of Christians they know personally, or those through the ages who have lived as Jesus body on Earth. Perhaps they’ve observed sacrificial love in action; commitment to truth and justice despite suffering and persecution. Faith opens their eyes, they ‘see’, and they believe.
However it may happen, when we see Him, we proclaim Him in the same words as Thomas – ‘My Lord and my God’ – and award Him our trust. Forever.
Previous Posts
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“I have seen the Lord”. It is difficult to imagine her emotions. She has seen the Lord! She doesn’t yet understand fully – but her eyes have seen Him. Her life is changed for ever, and she doesn’t care who knows it.
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But Jesus is aware of what He will have to endure in order to fulfil His mission of salvation – and He sets the necessary elements in motion.
Praying Together 17th March 2024
The Anglican Church of Ireland has produced an excellent example of the way in which St Patrick’s life embodies the Five marks of Mission – a real cause for celebration and a model for us to follow (And by the way, St. Patrick’s flag colour is blue, not green.)
Praying Together 10th March 2024
It’s a day of being aware of, and thankful for, the caring and loving relationships that exist within family and friends.
Praying Together 3rd March 2024
And what of our anger? Is it based on injury to self? Injury to others? Or injury to love, to forgive, to serve? Can we defend it at the foot of the Kingly throne?
Praying Together 25th February 2024
‘Which am I – the chicken or the pig? Jesus makes it clear that in following Him, there is no half-way house – our values are either of the material world, or of the Kingdom.
Praying Together 18th February 2024
The world is in flames. Are you impelled to put them out? Look at the cross. From the open heart gushes the blood of the Saviour. This extinguishes the flames of hell. Make your heart free by the faithful fulfilment of your vows;
Praying Together 11th February 2024
It’s the same for us – we cannot build our faith on just one or two aspects of Jesus’ story. The fundamental truth we need to accept that He is risen from the dead and He is Lord, alive.
Praying Together 4th February 2024
He asks for no reward, save that of loving His creation, His Father and our neighbours (all of them) as He loves – do we even do that?
Praying together 28th January 2024
So, says Paul, eat or don’t eat. Stop making a fuss over things that don’t matter, and get on with loving your neighbour.
Praying Together 21st January 2024
as we celebrate this week of Christian Unity, let us consider what service we could offer together, that we wouldn’t be capable of achieving on our own – the whole being much greater than the parts.
Praying Together January 14th 2024
Plough Sunday has its roots in medieval times, when the parish church was often used to store a communal plough in the winter months, then being decorated and blessed before the rhythm of the agricultural season begins once more on Plough Monday