On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him,
“We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
One of the parts of this reading that captured my attention was these lines.
ReplyDelete“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
It reminded me of something I heard about brokenness and the power of love to heal. It claims that when we don’t transform brokenness, it is transferred to those encountered by the brokenness. And can we transform? Through love. Ideally, that love comes from a parent, a partner, or a friend. However, some brokenness is so deep and hidden within that the transformation needs to come from God. And each of us can ask God for that love which turns t9o forgiveness and healing. His is probably the most powerful thing about the Gospel that I have come to appreciate. One, we have an infinite capacity to to be the transformative force in others simply by loving and forgiving them. Two, the way we feed that capacity is by feeding our relationship with God. It is God who heals that in us that no one can heal and that opens us up to being a healing force for others.
Your response to John 20:19-31 is insightful and beautifully connects the passage to the concept of love, forgiveness, and healing. Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteTransformation Through Love: You draw a powerful connection between Jesus' words about sending the disciples and the idea of transforming brokenness through love.
Love's Power to Heal: You highlight the importance of love, ideally from parents, partners, or friends, in healing brokenness.
Divine Love and Forgiveness: You acknowledge the depth of some wounds that require God's love for transformation and forgiveness.
Infinite Capacity to Forgive: You emphasize the message of the Gospel: our potential to be agents of healing and forgiveness for others through love.
Nurturing Relationship with God: You recognize the importance of nurturing our relationship with God as the source of our ability to love and forgive.
These are all profound and important aspects of the Christian message. Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
The Role of the Church: Some denominations see the act of forgiving sins as entrusted to the Church through ordained clergy.
Personal Transformation: The process of transformation through love can be a lifelong journey, requiring ongoing effort.
Grace and Forgiveness: The concept of God's grace plays a role in forgiveness. Forgiveness is not just earned, but offered by God and extended by us.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful and moving interpretation of the passage. The connection you make between love, forgiveness, and our relationship with God is a powerful one.