Image: Caravaggio at Hermanoleon
April 12, 2015
Now Jesus did many other signs that
are not written in this book ....
John knows how to tantalize an audience.
Just what were the other signs that Jesus
performed in the disciples' presence that did not merit a few paragraphs in the
gospel?
Showing up after he was supposed to be
dead was miracle enough.
Getting past the locked doors and the
barrier of fear was pretty impressive too.
The glorified wounds must have been a
sight to see, and the reception of the Holy Spirit was certainly a fitting
place to end a gospel.
But the story continues beyond that climax
to the somewhat anticlimactic story of Thomas and his misgivings about the
whole thing.
Thomas' story makes the cut because it is
of course our story:
without seeing the events of those days,
we are invited to faith.
But after Thomas makes his famous assent
to faith, "My Lord and my God!", the evangelist tells us mysteriously
that there were more signs, too, not written down.
Does he mention this simply to pique our
curiosity?
It occurs to me that I have seen signs of
the risen Lord, too, that have never seen print.
I have seen the courage of those who are
dying.
I have embraced enemies who have been
transformed into loyal friends.
I have experienced the melting of anger
into healing forgiveness.
I have watched generous acts give birth to
hope.
Friends caught in the grip of addictions
have been liberated from their pain
Signs of the risen Lord are all around us,
collected only in the Scripture of our hearts.
These too give us reason to exclaim,
"My Lord and my God!"
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