The Goodness of God

More often than not, responsible consideration ends up saying, "This scripture isn't about you!" Or, at least, you might be able to gain something from this scripture, but you were not its original or primary audience. The story of Doubting Thomas (or more accurately Late to the Meeting Thomas) is absolutely about you. It's about anyone who tries to find faith in an era, when you can't just stick your hands into Jesus's sick scars. It's a story about how all belief is a journey, and one that was easier for the Apostles than for us. Jesus knows that and is here with you all the way.

Easter is Christianity's highest of the high holy days. Jesus rose from the dead, and reality shifted on its axis. At the heart of the entire Holy Week journey is God tipping God's hand about how God approaches humanity. Despite a never ending series of disappointments, stretching back through time and stretching into the future, God choose to make love us God's first priority.

Jesus has one more night to try and drive home what he needs his disciples to know before everything gets blown into chaos. He has to make his point about what it really means to be him and to be a follower of him. The stakes at the Last Supper are weirdly high. Jesus knows what's coming. Judas has made his choice. The wheels are in motion. So, Jesus takes off his outer robe, kneels down at before each of his disciples, and washes their feet. It was always about love and coming to serve. Jesus sets that example for us all to follow.

The normal order of things goes: 1. Plan the battle. 2. Fight the battle. 3. Declare victory in the battle. At the root of Christ's triumphal entry is a novel ordering of a battle. 1. (Before the beginning of time) Plan the battle. 2. Declare victory in the battle by triumphally entering Jerusalem. 3. Fight the battle by going to the cross. From a human perspective, the result of the battle is in doubt. What does it mean that Jesus dies? What does it mean that Christ hasn't returned? However, time and time again, Scripture seeks to remind us that when God decides to take the field, the battle is already over.

Mary anoints Jesus with incredibly expensive perfume, and Judas pipes up inquiring if it was better meant for the poor. To many of us, this probably seems cut and dry, and a rare point for Judas. Jesus rules in favor of Mary. Why? How? It all boils down to the squishy mix of motivate, passion, and timing. The right thing isn't always the right thing, and the obliviously wrong isn't always that either.

God has tremendous love and joy for a wanderer of who finds their way back home. We deeply love this aspect of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and it's absolutely true, deeply, and truly hopeful. When we wander, we can always come home and be welcomed with open arms. However, the other question that the parable asks, that we like to glance over, is whether, we, would have found our way home, are as excited for and welcoming of the new wanderers as God is? The older brother doesn't share the father's excited. Does the church look like that sometimes?

Humanity longs for more than mere existence, but we are not always great at finding that meaning in good and healthy places. That missing spot in our souls is meant to filled by the presence and power of God. That is the thing that will never leave us emptier than when we started.

What matters the most in life? What helps us overcome our existential fears? When all our physical needs are met, and we can finally appear out to deeper concerns, where do we turn? These are humans most profound and enduring questions, and we've come up with a whole hosts - including lean into decadence and excess. Paul uses his call to Christian unity to the Philippians to posit another answer. Our citizenship resides in Heaven rather than being ruled by more imminent concerns.

After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus gets tempted by Satan. In the exchange, Satan quotes scripture at Jesus, and Jesus counters with quotes from scripture. Jesus's temptations may look way different from ours. Satan can only tempt with doing the wrong good thing. We may have baser temptations, but we are not left alone to deal with them. God pours out strength if we will take the time and create the space for us to receive it and intentionally prepare to resist temptation.