John 11:16
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us
also go, so that we may die with Him."
Please note another voice, spoken many many years earlier.
Genesis 46:29,30 - Please allow me to share a remarkable contrast I see in the
two scenes.
When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long
time. Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen
your face again and know you are still alive."
This scene is a great re-union happening in Goshen, near Egypt where an old
father is meeting his long lost son, Jacob meeting Joseph, Israel meeting the
forebearer of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Israel in his happiness,
having met his beloved son whom he had given up for dead says "Now I am ready to
die". It was an expression of unconstrained love, the voice of supreme
satisfaction,unparalleled joy.
On the other hand, many years later, on the road to Bethany, we see the ones who
are to be the forebearers of the new Israel, the Holy Church, in a state of
confusion. Their beloved Lord has called them - "Let us go to Bethany". They are
not sure, they are not ready to die, not just yet. At this time, we see one
among them, Thomas the Apostle, stepping up, and voicing the same emotions that
long ago, Israel (Jacob) had expressed - "Now I am ready to die".
"Let us also go, so that we may die with Him".
Unlike Jacob, Thomas had been experiencing the bliss, the love, and the joy of
being close to the Lord all this while. Suddenly he is confronted with the
possibility of losing the company of the Lord for ever.That is what brings out
these words from Thomas. When Thomas felt he might lose being in the presence of
the Lord, "he is ready to die" and from his mouth comes out the words urging his
friends "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him". He was a true devotee,
never wanting to part from the presence of the Lord - praise the Lord of Thomas!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
Part 12:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23546
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23565
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us
also go, so that we may die with Him."
Please note another voice, spoken many many years earlier.
Genesis 46:29,30 - Please allow me to share a remarkable contrast I see in the
two scenes.
When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long
time. Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen
your face again and know you are still alive."
This scene is a great re-union happening in Goshen, near Egypt where an old
father is meeting his long lost son, Jacob meeting Joseph, Israel meeting the
forebearer of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Israel in his happiness,
having met his beloved son whom he had given up for dead says "Now I am ready to
die". It was an expression of unconstrained love, the voice of supreme
satisfaction,unparalleled joy.
On the other hand, many years later, on the road to Bethany, we see the ones who
are to be the forebearers of the new Israel, the Holy Church, in a state of
confusion. Their beloved Lord has called them - "Let us go to Bethany". They are
not sure, they are not ready to die, not just yet. At this time, we see one
among them, Thomas the Apostle, stepping up, and voicing the same emotions that
long ago, Israel (Jacob) had expressed - "Now I am ready to die".
"Let us also go, so that we may die with Him".
Unlike Jacob, Thomas had been experiencing the bliss, the love, and the joy of
being close to the Lord all this while. Suddenly he is confronted with the
possibility of losing the company of the Lord for ever.That is what brings out
these words from Thomas. When Thomas felt he might lose being in the presence of
the Lord, "he is ready to die" and from his mouth comes out the words urging his
friends "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him". He was a true devotee,
never wanting to part from the presence of the Lord - praise the Lord of Thomas!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
Part 12:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23546
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23565
No comments:
Post a Comment