The Hymn of the Day, O Sons and
Daughters of the King (LSB
#470), recounts the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and
particularly His encounter with Thomas. His words to Thomas are meant for us,
also: ‘How blest are they who have not seen And yet whose faith has constant
been, For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia!’ Thomas believed with his
eyes. You believe with your ears!
We touch the
nails and thrust every time the word is preached and the sacraments
administrated. We receive in the
Sacrament the whole Christ.
The Jesus that John beheld on Patmos and that
Thomas saw in the upper room is the same Jesus that you behold in Word and
Sacrament. You see Him, not with your eyes, but with your ears. You don’t hear
a voice like a trumpet but you hear Jesus in the preaching of a man. You hear
Jesus because it’s not my word that I preach but His. It is His Word that I was
sent here to preach. It wasn’t the words of my predecessors in this pulpit that
they preached, but the Word of God that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen[2]
[1]Image of Christ
appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg
[2]
Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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