 The disciples are grief stricken and confused. Gripped with guilt, doubt and fear we find them huddled away from sight in the upper room with little idea of what to do and where to go to from this point onward. Having appeared to Mary and the disciples on the Emmaus road, Jesus now appears in the room with them and speaks to them words of life.
He could have condemned them for their fear and lack of faith but having conquered even those sins in the grave he chooses instead to speak words of healing, forgiveness and life. “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Later Thomas will join them and he too will receive Jesus' gift of peace. For some faith comes easily but to others it takes a little more. So whether you find faith easy or hard be encouraged by the words of this passage because Jesus’ love is for every one of us and to each of us he reaches out with his gift of peace. All you have to do is dare to believe and to receive it. Till next time…..Andrew. This weeks readings; Acts 4:32-37 Psalm 16 1 Peter 1:1-12 John 20:19-31 |
Rev. Andrew SmithVicar of Light in the Hills |