DISCIPLES

DISCIPLES

I recently read an article by someone whose spiritual guidance I have always admired, but this time he cast doubt on the Resurrection.  I was very sad. This glorious event, this one of a kind happening, which changed literally everything, is the cornerstone of my faith and the final proof of the existence of God.  I confess to being a skeptic sometimes, but I believe wholly in the presence of God in the world.  If you look at it historically you see God guiding the ancient people toward the eventual arrival of the Messiah.  Then Christ’s miracle-filled life fulfilled all the prophecies such as this from Deut. 18:15-20

           

            A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you

            from among your own kin; to him you shall listen in all that he

            may say to you.  Everyone who does not listen to that prophet

            will be cut off from the people.

In order for the world to know that God is present, the final miracle, that of resurrection from the dead had to happen.  As a beloved pastor used to remind us, this is not pretend, this is reality. It was the resurrection of Jesus that energized his disciples and gave them the courage to wait as he told them for the Holy Spirit to come to them and give them the wisdom they would need to fulfill his mission.

In one of her poems, Edwina Gately describes Jesus as “cutting through the crowds like an axe through wood.”  It also describes the Apostles following the resurrection of Jesus.  This mismatched group, taxmen, patricians, and fishermen, who lived and learned together for three years, felt lost and afraid at the death of Jesus only to be lifted to new heights by the Resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The period after Easter is truly the time of the Apostles. As we read from The Acts of of the Apostles, their brave witness in front of the very people who orchestrated the death of Jesus reads like the most wonderful come from behind story. Suddenly, everything Jesus said and did made sense and they were able to speak with conviction and courage.

We, who believe as strongly in Jesus, should be feeling the same kind of courage and conviction following the Easter celebration. We don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come; the Spirit is already within us.  We are disciples, too.  We have the same obligation to further the work of Christ and, because of his death and resurrection, we have all the tools we need.  Many people are longing for the peace that Christ can bring and unless a true witness tells them about it, they may never know.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA