A Convincing Mystery

After Jesus died, the Apostles stayed in a room to talk about it. They locked the door, but, suddenly, Jesus came in anyway! "Peace be with you," He said, and gave them the power to forgive sins. One Apostle, Thomas, wasn't there - and didn't believe the others saw Jesus. Later, Jesus came back
when Thomas was there. "Peace be with you - and Thomas, believe in me," He said. So Thomas did!

Days after Easter, you may have eaten all your candy but still be wondering: How did it get into your house? You picture the Easter Bunny sneaking in during the night, but you're not sure quite how that could happen. Didn't your family lock the door?

If a locked door didn't stop your Easter basket from arriving, it sure wouldn't stop Jesus. In this week's Gospel (John 20:19-31), we hear about Him coming straight into a locked room - and proving He'd come back to life at Easter!

Some things are just a mystery. Exactly how the Easter Bunny delivers candy is one of them. But while the Gospel story makes Jesus sound mysterious, too, it also answers a lot of questions.

Even Jesus' closest followers had wondered whether He was really God, and whether He'd really come back to life after He was crucified. They wanted to trust Him, but they were scared - so scared that, after He died, they ran and hid in a locked room.

Like your Easter basket appeared on Easter morning, Jesus suddenly appeared, too. Seeing Him made the Apostles finally believe in Him (except for Thomas, who saw Jesus for himself later). 

You may never know just how your Easter basket got into your house - a mystery you'll have to live with - but you can still enjoy the candy. Once the Apostles learned that Jesus was really the Son of God and really alive again, they could enjoy the "treats" He brought: faith and the power to forgive people's sins!

(04/16/09)