So, this past Sunday we heard from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is the book in our New Testament located just after the four gospels. Fun Fact: Acts was actually written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke; consequently, many scholars simply refer to them jointly, as Luke-Acts, since Acts is basically a sequel to the gospel. Just think of it as Luke 2: Same Spirit, More Moves.
So, last Sunday we heard from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatians. It’s always a good practice to remember that we’re actually reading someone else’s two-thousand-year-old mail when we’re reading one of Paul’s letters. Even though they didn’t have FedEx back in those days, the New Testament is still basically half mail.
We made it to the Sunday after Easter, hurray! We heard from one of the more famous scenes from the gospel of John, where the “doubting Thomas” finally comes face to face with the risen Jesus. Thomas had complained to the other disciples who had told him of the Resurrection that, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Then Jesus shows up and is basically like, “Alright, Mr. Doubty Pants, go on then, stick your hands here.” (This is the official scholarly Savvy translation of the bible.)
So last week was Easter, and Christ is Risen! We heard the Resurrection story from the gospel of John, where Mary Magdalene is the first person in history to see the risen Jesus. Unlike Jesus’ male disciples, Mary did not flee at the horror of the crucifixion. And unlike Peter, she cannot leave the tomb. Consequently, she will become the first witness to Easter. And when Jesus tasks her to inform the other disciples of his coming, Mary Magdalene is made the first missionary.
So, let’s start with a simple yet daunting question that someone will inevitably ask us anyway: Are you happy? Not in a I’m-entertained-and-enjoying-this-fleeting-moment sort of way, but in a deeper way, a long-lasting way. Are you fulfilled, content with your life’s meaning? Is your soul full and warm and restful, knowing perfectly well that someday you are going to die?
