Touch Me and See

While they were talking about this, 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. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:36-53 

Some days our imaginations or our fears can run away with us. When the future is uncertain, as it often can be, it is easy to get afraid and worried. We speculate and argue, most often with ourselves. We can miss that even in our most uncertain times, God is in our midst. We some times have to wait until we are recharged, touched by God's power so that we can go forth again.

The disciples are a mes, a hot mess. They want to believe but are second guessing themselves and afraid of the police. They are outcasts in their own city and afraid of their own shadows. Jesus asks them to reach out and touch him. The resurrection is real, God's power over death is theirs and he promises to give them the power they need for the days ahead. They had to wait for it though, recharging and empowering one another in their faith. And we are invited to do likewise in uncertain times - take the time to recharged and be renewed by God's power and spirit.

Today I ask God to help us take hold of our faith and use the coming days to be strengthened and  renewed. May we encourage each other in faith, waiting on God for the power to move in care for the world.