Family - Peace - Thomas - Community

Day Five - A Family of the Resurrection

Have you ever looked at a family member and wondered, "How did that one end up in our family?" I have to admit, I have. Even my own begotten children have made me pause and think, "Where did that child come from?" Whether it's a radical behavior, a different value system, or simply a matter of varied tastes or preferences. Family can be very puzzling to me. I mean, how did we ever get to be so different?

We didn't get to choose to be a part of our families. We were simply born into them. In addition we are broken people. So even if we did chose our families, our only options would have been fractured men and women and splintered children. Many broken peices do not a perfect whole make.

Pastor Meador spoke to us last Sunday about Peace and Thomas and Unbelief and Community. I had never thought about Thomas as an unbeliever. He only asked for a bit of reassurance. C'mon Jesus can surely provide a bit of evidence. Just a quick look at and a brush against the wounds and his flesh. I guess this is much like the fact that I never thought about myself as an unbeliever just four short years ago.  I just was waiting for my proof, my chance to get some answers. Well, I was not doubting, it was total unbelief.

In the end Thomas and I are still very different. At least Thomas looked to the Christ for his proof. I know that I only looked to myself for justification. On Easter Sunday the pastor of SILO Lutheran Church in Lewiston, MN spoke about the women looking into the tomb for Christ. Like these women looking into the cave, we often look into our empty hearts for Christ. Well, HE ISN'T THERE. Our hearts hold only sinful, ugly, emptiness. Why do you look here? the Angel asked (If only an Angel lived in me) He is Risen!

Our families are the first contacts in our community. They are the first people with whom we can share the Peace that was extended to the disciples, and to us, by Christ shortly after his resurrection. (Can you imagine? He grants us peace after such a gruesome scene the week before.) But what about those differences? Those bizzare twists of nature and nurture? In humility count others as more important than yourself (PHIL 2:3). . . this message is posted near my phone at work and applies to family too. The opposite of Pride is Humility and I could use any reminders I can get to be gracious and humble. As I pull out my cross from my pocket I am reminded of one who always placed others before himself, and because of this I was born into his family of the resurrection.