Caravaggio: The Incredulity of St. Thomas (1603)
Acts 5:27–32
Still, Still, Still
"You're determined to bring this man's blood upon us!"
Said the priest to disciples who would not be shushed,
Since the Spirit of God would not let them be still
About Jesus, now raised, whom e'en death would not kill;
Thus the gift of the Spirit, they had to obey,
Was forgiveness for all! They could not turn away
From the truth, which is love, and the measure of God,
Who still calls us to tell, who still pushes, still prods.
Scott L. Barton
When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
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John 20:19–31
Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”
He did not say that when we die we’ll be “at peace.”
Can we from somber calling hours that phrase erase?
A friend of mine, whose father died, was told those words;
“He’s now at peace,” if you just think, is quite absurd!
The phrase pretends that one can come to terms with death,
Not rage—the one who’s died, plus those who loved them best;
Imagining they ease that pain, some do not realize,
What’s needed then is that they simply sympathize!
No platitudes! No pap! No arrogantly you;
The one who died, of “peace,” no longer has a clue!
But if the resurrection here described be true,
It means that e’en in death, the Lord makes all things new.
This story’s weird: He walks through doors; is not the same;
And yet, he speaks in love to those who know his name;
It’s love that does not end that is the gospel here;
So love extend, through hugs, and tears, through gifts and ears.
Scott L. Barton
Doubt Flouter
Oh, why do you think that he said to them, “Peace,”
When they huddled together for fear the police
Would find them, and charge them with breaking the Law?
Well, they worried their running would stick in his craw!
And now he was back, he would give them what for!
But he knew they were scared to death; thus through the door,
This Jesus, whom not by cruel death could be changed,
Walked right in, since betrayal could not stop the range
God's grace would extend—which is what we all doubt!
So don’t limit this text, thinking Thomas it flouts;
It’s you, and it’s me who need Jesus’ kind word,
Which is why he then told them their spirits to gird,
And follow his lead towards the whole human race,
And doubt not that e’en you can bear witness to grace.
Scott Barton
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”
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.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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