Resurrection in 2012

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you in 2012?

I’ve been asking myself this question as I have been delving into our Gospel reading for this week (John 20:19-31).  I pose this same question to the readers of this blog. I wonder how you might respond.

You see, if these sacred narratives of our Scripture remain just flat stories on a page, as an object, then we are missing out on the voluminous nature of what Scripture can inspire in our lives. There are times for us to be scientists and put Scripture under a microscope to examine all the details of the story.  Then there are times that we are to read Scripture like we were watching an incredible Broadway performance. Performance Art invites us to explore our lives through the characters on the stage.  I would argue that reading Scripture can be like a Broadway performance that invites us to explore the art of the Holy Story and what it might mean in our flesh.

When we see the resurrection Jesus, metaphorically speaking, in our day-to-day events, what reaction does that inspire in us? Are we like the first disciples who need words of peace spoken to us multiple times? Maybe we are waiting for resurrection in our relationships or in our careers and we, like Thomas, need to touch this new life in order to believe it is actually true.

So let your imaginations run wild as you contemplate John 20:19-31 in preparation for this Sunday. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you in 2012?