The Proof is in the Pudding

Today's scripture can be found here.

Another teaching homily for today, again, something we can say not to those who aren't here, but to those who won't come.

Those of us who are believers in Christ today don't really get to see Christ with our own eyes, but we do get to see his power working in Christian life—our life as a community and as individuals. I once read a book of Russian theology, and the author used this analogy. If we think of a soap bubble, of all its iridescent colors, its perfectly round shape, etc., we realize that the bubble's existence is proof that there is air inside. We can't see the air, but without it, we would have nothing but a puddle of soap. This is what the presence and the power of God is like in our lives.

You see, we're supposed to be like the man Peter and John heal in the account from Acts. People should be able to look at us over time and ask, "What happened? How did they get like that? Why did they get like that?" In my case, for example, ten years from now, people should be able to look at me and see a good, generous priest and ask, "What happened?! He used to be such a tightwad!" Now, it does sometimes happen that we get to see miraculous physical healings, but what people should be able to see is the spiritual healing we receive. Over time, people should be able to see us becoming more and more like Christ: more loving, more forgiving, more generous, and so forth.

But as in today's gospel, the most astonishing realizations of God's power happen when we gather together as a community of disciples, break open the Word, and share his body. This is why we gather at the altar for the Eucharist. Just think about all the wonderful things that happen around the altar. These things are what we need to point out to those who would debunk what happens at the altar.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

~J