by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Matthew's gospel summarizes several of the post-resurrection appearances and chastens them for their stubbornness and lack of faith even in seeing Him. Tomorrow we hear La John's gospel: How blessed are those who believe without seeing! We are among those blessed... Or are we among those to be chastened?

Faith is foundation for salvation. Unbelief leads to relapse. and condemnation. The same is true of spirituality. Lime health we all have it. We may have poor health or good health but unless we are dead we cannot avoid having some king of health and some kind of spirituality.

In the book of Acts, from which we read throughout this Easter season we have heard the continuous pericope of Peter's healing of the paralytic and the consequences of his-action.

This crippled man was truly helpless, a prime candidate for God's powerful intervention. Peter initiates a personal contact by inviting the man to look at him; in the name of Jesus he commands him: Get up and walk. continuing to assist him physically as the man struggles to rise to his feet. Suddenly he is walking, leaping, and praising God.

Now picture this scene in the Holy Temple or even here in St. Lawrence Martyr Church. What do you think those Sadducees thought about this charismatic foolishness?

In order to understand spirituality and to live a spiritual life we need to imagine (image-in) a mental picture of what things look and feel like.

How would you feel in the space of that healed paralytic? What might your reaction be? Jesus the son of God came to walk among us and share our everyday life. After death He came back and continued to walk and love and call us back to him regardless of our behavior. It's not a matter of doing but of letting be done in us what Christ desires.

As we grow by allowing the power of the resurrection to touch and transform our lives, we become a source of encouragement (or discouragement) to others.

Peter's boldness of power took these religious leaders by surprise; commanding him to stop this preaching and healing. Peter refused to obey affirming his commitments to a higher authority. The leaders were unable to prevent the spread of Jesus' message from Jerusalem and beyond to the ends of the earth as Jesus commissioned and Gamaliel prophesied.

What more appropriate time than Easter than to give thanks to the Lord. We might fall on our knees in humble awe; or wry might fill the sanctuary with song and dance and shouts of joy.

Does God really care which options we choose? In which form of expression we demonstrate our gratitude?

Or does God care -- not how -- but that we struggle to See and understand and ultimately be with Him in the fabric of His Divine Am-ness.

NO it is not easy. All that is within us pulls against it. It is our human nature to be imperfect and God's nature to be perfect. And so either we make ourselves God or we allow ourselves to be who we are and allow God to make us who He desires.