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AN INVITATION TO PRAY
Throughout the summer, Boone UMC is presenting weekly scripture, prayer, and video. The scripture and prayer are for you to reflect on during your personal devotion time, and the videos offer glimpses into how our church friends have experienced the Holy Spirit in their own lives. Watch for this invitation here each week, as well as on the website and in our church app.
Week Seven, July 13-19
INVITATION
Boone UMC invites you to pray daily/weekly for the Holy Spirit to come and guide us, to come and be with us as we walk through different – often difficult – phases of our journey. Our video this week is from Justin Lawrence. Justin shares a beautiful story of growing up in a family of strong believers who shared their deep faith with him. Even so, when faced with the loss of his beloved uncle, Justin refused to say he understood when he did not, he refused to pretend to believe when he did not. And, like doubting Thomas, in the moment when Justin did understand, he called out to his Lord Jesus Christ proclaiming full out, “And that, my friends, is the moment I knew – God is Alive!”
SCRIPTURE
John 20:24-29 (NRSV)
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
REFLECTION
The monks from the Order of Mount Carmelite practice Lectio Divina every day as part of their rule. Last week, on July 3rd, St. Thomas Day, they took up John 20:24-29. Below is a portion for our reflection this week.
John 20:28-29: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Together with Thomas [and Justin] we say: “My Lord and my God!” This gift of Thomas is the ideal attitude of faith. And Jesus concludes with a final message: “You believe because you can see Me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!” With this phrase, Jesus declares blessed are all of us who find ourselves in the same condition: without having seen, we believe that Jesus, who is in our midst, is the same One who died crucified! The mandate: “As the Father sent Me so I am sending you!” From this Jesus, who was crucified and rose from the dead, we receive the mission, the same one which He has received from the Father (Jn 20:21). Here, in the second appearance, Jesus repeats, “Peace be with you!” This repetition stresses the importance of peace. Making peace is part of the mission. Peace means much more than the absence of war. It means to build a harmonious human life together in which people can be themselves, having everything necessary to live, living happily together in peace. This was the mission of Jesus and is also our own mission. Jesus breathed and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22), and with the help of the Holy Spirit we will be able to fulfill the mission which He has entrusted to us…In one word, our mission is that of “forming community” according to the example of the community of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Personal Questions:
1. In society today, the divergence and the tensions of race, social class, religion, gender, and culture are enormous, and they continue to grow every day. How can the mission of Jesus be carried out today?
2. In your community and in your family are you calling on your faith to build a harmonious human life together?
PRAYER
Father, You call your children to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of Your truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
VIDEO
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