Collect for Sunday, April 19
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Readings for today can be found
here
.
A Meditation on the Second Sunday of Easter
Faithfully, every Second Sunday of Easter, Doubting Thomas shows up. Thomas will not believe that Jesus has shown himself to the disciples until Jesus shows himself to Thomas who was not with the disciples the night Jesus appeared. Jesus complies and Thomas makes his famous confession: “ My Lord and my God!”
Thomas is the patron saint of the blind. As we all are feeling our way through these difficult days, I am realizing how blind I can become to the presence of our Risen Lord. My days unfold with a strange unpredictability – many Zoom meetings, the washing of clothes, the running of the dishwasher. This past Wednesday I forgot to put my trash can out. When I realized I had forgotten, I was suddenly aware how grateful I am for all those who sustain our common life and how often I can become distracted and miss the sightings of the Risen Lord that are ever before us.
Doubt is not the opposite of faith. The opposite of faith is fear, fear that Jesus will not show up. Yes, my trash can did not get emptied this week, but it is large and I have made a note to self to take it out next week. The good news is that I remembered all those who keep us going in these days. Jesus showed up. Where is Jesus showing up for you?
Rev. Bambi Willis
An Easter 2 Sermon from Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson
