The Ethics of Pascha

We gathered to discuss the event of Jesus' appearance to His disciples and to Thomas (John 20:19-31). The brother whose turn it was to speak to us, led us with words that revive the heart. What struck him first was that the disciples, after Jesus appeared to them and commissioned them with what God the Father had entrusted to Him, remained confined in the closed room. He said that Jesus, along with His disciples, continued to bear the marks of their wounds! Jesus did not want to reveal His wounds only to prove that He is the Crucified One, but also to show that He is Man's Partner as well as His Savior in all circumstances. How can a fearful disciple fulfill God's commission? No human being is without wounds! Jesus, Who combined in Himself the wounds of suffering and the glory of victory, can achieve in us what He is asking of us. The second thing our speaking brother pointed out to us was that after the disciples heard Thomas doubting the resurrection of their Master, they did not accuse him of blasphemy! He had asked to see Jesus alive, and Jesus granted him his request. The language of blasphemous libel is not part of the ethics of Pascha. It was indeed a wonderful meeting!