April 24, 2022
As the time nears for our intern to complete her time with the congregation, I asked if she would preach on this first Sunday after Easter. The text is always the same, poor Thomas who was not with the disciples when they saw the resurrected Jesus (see Day #3031). Yet, today our intern made an interesting connection in the verses that follow today's reading - that the smell of the charcoal fire that Jesus sat beside on the shore in his next appearance to the disciples is what helped them recognize him.
It occurred to me how many sights, smells, and sounds we have explored over Lent and Easter this year - ashes and Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday, the sounds of Holy Week like anointing oil, nails being hammered into Jesus’ flesh on the cross and the shutting of the tomb, to name a few. Could another smell really have been what brought the disciples to recognition and realization?
What about us? What about those who have never seen the physical Jesus - how might we recognize his presence? Could it be the smell of bread and wine, or the feel of water, the aroma of anointing oil, or a bit of them all? Hmmm...
Blessings. And prayers.
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