On a recent Sunday, we read from the Gospel according to St. John, chapter 20. Who among you cannot forget how Jesus invited Thomas — who had refused to believe that Jesus was truly raised from the dead — to touch His now-healed wounds (scars, actually … beauty marks He bears for enduring the cross for our salvation), and those memorable words of Thomas, who then confessed, “My Lord and my God!”
And then Jesus spoke words that have echoed down through the ages ever since: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:28-29).
Only then did we hear this: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).
Christian, you have the good news, not only of Jesus’ atoning death, but also of His glorious resurrection. You have believed without seeing. Take heart and be encouraged, for, according to Jesus, you are — and shall be — blessed.
A number of years ago, on a trip to Bay City, Michigan, my oldest brother and I contacted a much older relative and took her out for lunch. We listened as she spoke at length about relatives we knew very little about, including my great-grandmother, whom she had lived close to and known well. It afterward dawned on me that she was the only person still alive on earth who had known my great-grandmother and could speak about her as she did, having even been present when great-grandma died some 80 years earlier.
Elda shared much joy throughout our visit, much of it connected with faith talk. After quite a while, we noticed the restaurant had grown quiet and empty, and we decided it was time to return her home. On the way, she mentioned she would like to show us where her husband was buried, so she directed us to the cemetery and to the spot she was seeking. We took note of the gravestone; it had her name on it as well — just no date.
There, she shared how some 30 years earlier, her husband — who had been a teacher and church organist — had come home from church and told her he was very frustrated at all the mistakes he had made with one of his hands in practice. He simply didn’t understand. Later that night, he suffered a massive stroke and died not long after. It had been a long journey of widowhood for Elda, now in her early 90s. But she shared how her involvement with her church was such a blessing to her and kept her faith fixed on Jesus.
She pointed down at the stone and noted the verse on it: John 11:25. And without being asked, she recited the verse from memory, adding a personal note: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me — and that would be me! — though he die, yet shall he live.”
With that, she was content to return home.
Elda, you, me and a multitude of others … born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
People of God, we have much for which to thank and praise Him.
And St. Peter’s words say it so well: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
A blessed Easter season to you, dear readers!
