Scripture & Reflection - Sunday 14th April - The Third Sunday of Easter Scripture'Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.’' (Luke 24.36b-39)Reflection[Adapted from the Roots resource.]Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection – the incredible event we celebrated together two weeks ago. Perhaps, even though we know more of the story and the outcome, we are slow learners like the disciples. After the Last Supper, Jesus exclaims to Philip: ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?’ (John 14:9) And the same is true of the disciple’s reaction to the resurrection. Doubt and fear are their initial reactions to the women’s testimony; to the empty tomb on the Easter morning; to the “Road to Emmaus” story; and to the appearance of Jesus when the disciples were gathered in the locked upper-room. This was despite Jesus’ foretelling what was going to happen! Even in this piece above, Jesus had to demonstrate that he was not a ghost!What about us? How does God teach us? Or, more pertinently, how do you learn what God wants to teach you?! Is it by repetition? Is it through reading Scripture? Or learning from your mistakes? Or the experience of other Christians?Maybe a good starting point is just to hear Jesus saying to you, “Peace be with you”….and then wait and see what happens.Revd David Commander
Scripture & Reflection - Sunday 7th April - The Second Sunday of Easter Scripture‘We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.’ (1 John 1.1)‘Jesus said to Thomas: ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe’.’ (John 20.29)ReflectionThomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection, and he refused to believe their story without the evidence of his own eyes. Jesus did not rebuke him for his lack of faith, but gave him the proof he needed. We are not all the same, and the ‘proof’ needed to convince us of the truth varies from one person to another. Unless we deliberately exclude the possibility of finding that truth, God, who knows us through and through, will show us each our own path into the reality of his presence.Revd Rosemary
Scripture & Reflection - Sunday 31st March - EASTER DAYScriptureAs they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16 5-8)ReflectionHold on a minute!! The women have arrived at the tomb to find the stone rolled away, instead of Jesus’ body they encounter an angel who tells them that Jesus has risen from the dead and they are to be the messengers of this amazing news and follow Him!!That is a lot to take in, even though Jesus had been trying to tell them that this was how it would be - people do not just come back to life - especially after such an awful death. I am not sure about you, but I would have been rendered speechless, in fact, traumatised by this revelation.As we awake on this Easter morning my hope is that you will be filled with joy and wonder rather than terror and fear at the news that Jesus Lives!! And that you would be open to the invitation of His eternal love for you.Christ is risen, He is risen indeed - AlleluiaLyn Hayes, ALM
