Daily Devotion – May 27, 2020 – Larry Papenfuss
I think Thomas gets a bad rap and I relate to him. When he says he can’t believe Jesus is risen without seeing him first hand, he gets labelled as “doubting Thomas” and used as an example of a faith that is somehow “less than”. I think it is a bad rap because none of the disciples could be necessarily lifted up as paragons of faith. In fact, most of the time Jesus had to keep trying to get them to see what he was really up to, to open their eyes, to stay awake, to follow the way. I think the truth is that Jesus was preparing them, and us, to realize that we will all fail. And, that having doubts does not mean we are not faithful.
In fact, Lutheran scholar Darrell Jodock sites one of the characteristics of our Lutheran colleges is that we embody a healthy skepticism regarding claims of absolute certainty. This might be especially true for those who claim to have God all figured out. To do so is to deny the mystery of God and the limits of our understanding.
That’s why I agree with Anne Lamott who says:
“The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns. Faith also means reaching deeply within, for the sense one was born with, the sense, for example, to go for a walk.” ― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
So, when it comes to sheltering at home, I don’t know when, or if, things will ever again be what I expect them to be. But maybe we need to accept that having faith during this time is living in the uncertainty . . . and when we struggle with it . . . maybe being faithful means we just go for a walk!
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Speaking of the disciples not having a clue here is The Sermon on the Mount (for all the teachers out there).
Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and gathering them around, He taught them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those that mourn..
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they who thirst for justice.
Blessed are you when you are persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer.
Be glad and rejoice for your reward in heaven shall be great.
Then Simon Peter said, “Do we have to write this down?”
And Andrew said, “Are we supposed to know this?”
And James said, “Will we have a test on this?”
And Phillip said, “I don’t have any paper.”
And Bartholomew said, “Do we have to turn this in?”
And John said, “The other disciples didn’t have to learn this.”
And Matthew said, “Can I go to the boy’s room?”
And Judas said, “What does this have to do with real life?”
Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see Jesus’ lesson plans and inquired of Jesus, “What are the objectives in the cognitive domain and your plans for remediation?”
Jesus wept.
