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Lenten devotions 2008

MARCH 17 - WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD
By Michael Sherer, director of Information Technology Services

THIS WEEK’S THEME: We have seen the Lord

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DEVOTIONAL:
"Seeing is Believing" goes the old adage. We trust our eyes to validate our understanding of reality. And so it was for those who encountered the risen Jesus on the day of his resurrection. "I have seen the Lord!" exclaimed Mary Magdalene to the disciples after meeting Jesus outside the tomb. "We have seen the Lord!" said the other disciples to Thomas, who then stubbornly refused to believe unless he himself had visible and tactile proof.

"We have seen the Lord!" also happens to be our devotional theme for Easter Week (Holy Week). Since the events of Easter Week encompass Jesus' triumphal entry, the cleansing of the temple, the last supper, Jesus' capture, trial and execution, we must also acknowledge the limitations of seeing.

Seeing does not guarantee understanding. Jesus' own disciples (who saw him constantly) stubbornly refused to accept the idea that Jesus might suffer and die. They expected him to set up an earthly kingdom and they would rule with him.

Seeing does not guarantee faithfulness. Judas, who also saw Jesus continually, betrayed him into the hands of the Jewish leaders.

Seeing is not always the whole story. Jesus' crucifixion was a public event and lots of people saw him suffer and die. If you didn't see the post-resurrection Jesus, then you'd have every right to believe the Jesus story was over -- and you'd be wrong. The eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus testified with joy that he is alive.

"We have seen the Lord!" said the disciples to Thomas. And when he had touched the wounds of our Lord, he also believed. Jesus turned and said to him, and to us, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet have believed."

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Devotion organizer’s note: This week, we will have devotions on Saturday and Sunday, to conclude Holy Week and Lent.
Posted at 14:51 #