Rev Shadi Diale

God Made All Things New In Him
Mark.16:12-14

It took a lot for the apostles to believe that Jesus was alive. Each of the evangelists tells a different version of that first day of the week, but the one thing they all agree on is the difficulty they had in believing. In Mark's version, the women who had first gone to the tomb didn't tell them what they had found. Mary Magdalen had told them that she had seen him, but they didn't believe her. Were the two that he had appeared to as they were walking into the country the same two that were heading for Emmaus in Luke's version? There's no way of knowing, but maybe. In John's version, Thomas isn't there when Jesus appears to them the first time and insists that he will need to touch his wounds before he believes. It's hard to know why they had such a hard time believing, but would you or I be any different? In one sense, we have to believe without seeing. We believe because of what others have told us. We choose to believe because we see the evidence of God working in our lives. We believe the promise; the promise that began in the Garden of Eden and renewed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and finalized on the cross. In John's version, Jesus tells Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." We are blessed by Jesus because we believe.

Recognizing Jesus As The Messiah
Luke.24:44-45

Did you ever study Geometry? Maybe there's another subject or procedure that you found difficult to understand. We can learn all the rules, but until we actually see how they work, we don't get it. When I was beginning to learn how to use a computer, the person trying to teach me said that you just to this and then that and it will work. Then he left, and I had no idea about what he had just said. I needed step by step instruction while I did the work. Jesus has told the apostles that he would suffer, die and rise again. They didn't understand. They had been taught about the Messiah and what was written about him in the Scriptures, but they still didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Now, Jesus sat with them and reminded them of everything he had told them. He also pointed out the passages in Scripture that referred to him so that they would be able to teach others. After all, you can't teach what you don't understand. I can't point out all of the passages in the prophets or the psalms that refer to Jesus, although I do know some of the ones from Micah, Isaiah, and the psalms, especially psalm 22. Once reminded, I'm sure the apostles could see the connections. Jesus knew that it was a lot to grasp at once and for that reason he had promised to send the Holy Spirit to help them. We, too, have the Holy Spirit to help us to understand the teachings of Jesus. All we need is to call upon him as Jesus tells us.

Rejoice
Matthew.28:8-9

On the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb to perform the burial rites for Jesus as they had not had the time to anoint his body before it was buried. Imagine their surprise when they found the stone rolled back and the tomb empty of Jesus' body and an angel sitting there waiting for them. He told them that Jesus had risen and was going before them into Galilee and they were to go and tell the disciples. Then, Jesus, himself, greeted them. Can you even begin to imagine their wonder and joy? In this, Matthew's Gospel, the disciples believe them and do go to Galilee where Jesus met them. In the other Gospel accounts, they were suspicious of the women's account and had to go see for themselves that it was true. What was our reaction to the resurrection when we first heard it? Did you immediately believe, or did you have doubts? Faith is an interesting thing. It really doesn't become our own until we examine our beliefs and test them. The women didn't need to believe that Jesus had risen because they saw and heard him themselves. The disciples weren't convinced. First, they had to check it for themselves. They were still trying to wrap their heads around his crucifixion. Jesus had warned them, but they didn't understand what he was trying to tell them. Even Peter, James and John who had witnessed his transfiguration didn't get it. And so Peter and John hurried to the tomb to check it out. It's okay for us to have doubts as well. The more we read Scripture and see how God is acting in our lives, the more our faith becomes truly our own.

Reflecting On Good Friday
John.19:28

For over twenty years I participated in an ecumenical Good Friday service where seven different preachers from seven different church communities and different denominations reflected on one of the seven last words of Christ as written in the four Gospel accounts of the crucifixion. Over twenty years I have heard or given reflections on this Word. What was Jesus thirsting for? I'm sure he was physically thirsty as he had had nothing to drink as he hung on the cross, and we don't know if he had had anything to drink during the time of the beatings or as he carried the cross. But was he thirsting for something else as well? Perhaps he was thirsting for those who had walked with him to continue to believe. Maybe he was thirsting for justice or peace. I'm sure he thirsted for a more loving world. What do we thirst for? Remember the time when he asked the Samaritan woman for a drink? He offered her "living water," Perhaps Jesus was asking those who were with him at the cross to offer the living water he had given them to others. Today, there are many people who need to hear about and receive his "living water." There are also many who need clean water to drink. I have found that it is often those who offer Jesus message that also work to satisfy the physical needs ofcommunities. I saw Christian groups work with the people to dig wells and provide methods of purification for water. What about justice? What are we willing to do to satisfy the thirst for justice, especially for the poor and the vulnerable? What can we do to bring about a more peaceful world? Jesus died for us. What can we do today to satisfy his thirst?

The Last Discourse
John.17:1-2

The Last Supper was Jesus' last opportunity to teach his apostles. This is only one passage of what is referred to as the "Last Discourse." In this passage however, he reveals the promise of eternal life to those who believe in him. He goes on to say that eternal life consists in that we know God as the only true God, and that we know that he sent Jesus into the world. It was at this time that he told the apostles that he was leaving them to go and prepare a place for them. He stressed that he wanted us to be one in faith. He gave us the command to love others as he loved us. He told them much more but also told them that he had much more to tell them but they couldn't "bear" them now. He promised to send the Spirit of truth who would guide them to all truth. Of course, this is only one part of this most important night. He offered himself in the bread and the wine; he washed their feet and told them that they must do the same. He predicted both the betrayal by Judas and the denial of Peter. He warned them that they would run away when he was arrested. So much happened in so little time! I wonder if they took it all in. If you or I knew when we would die, what would we want to tell those we loved? Would we let them know how much we loved them? Would we ask forgiveness for the times we had hurt them? Would we tell them not to worry, that we had no fear of dying, that we trusted in Jesus promises? What would we do?

A Song of hope.

Whispering Hope performed by the Presentation School Choir, Kilkenny Presentation School Choir Kilkenny perform Whispering Hope in The Set Theatre, Langtons, Kilkenny.