Liturgy: “It’s Ok, I’ll Help You”
"Doubting" Thomas and I are kindred spirits. If you are right there with us, there is good news. Jesus loves to help people believe, and I love this about him.
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Acts 5:27-32
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31
Psalm 118:14-29
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Chris Cragin-Day, Assistant Professor of English and Theater:
I’m not a very good celebrator. “Cautiously optimistic” is a term I often use to describe my hopes for the future. Just last week, when a student of mine congratulated me on some opportunities that have recently presented themselves on one of my new writing projects, I answered, “I tend not to celebrate things until I know they are real.” His smile flattened. “Oh,” he answered, and left dejected. In some ways, mine is a sensible approach to life. Rational. Reasonable. Realistic. But I’m not sure that’s why I take it. If I’m being completely honest, I will say that I take this approach because I’m afraid of disappointing myself and others. Work hard; keep expectations low. That way, when things don’t work out the way you want them to, you survive. Always.
My suspicion is that this was also true for “Doubting” Thomas. I expect he loved Jesus as much as the rest of the disciples but was afraid to believe Jesus was alive because he couldn’t survive the torture of reliving his death. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thomas and I are kindred spirits. If you are right there with us, there is good news. Jesus loves to help people believe, and I love this about him. Rather than chiding Thomas, Jesus shows him his hands and feet, allows Thomas to touch the scars. He understands Thomas’s fears and wants to help him overcome them. And it’s not just Thomas he does this for. All throughout His ministry, after he performs a miracle he says, “I do this so that you might believe.” Jesus understands the pain of crushed hopes, the brutality of disappointment. To those afraid of believing he says, “It’s okay. I’ll help you.”