It looks like today is the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle. Which I'm very excited about, because I don't have to come up with a title for the blog today.

Our first reading is Ephesians 2:19-22

Today's reading is kind of gentle and soothing. Not the kind of thing that I expect to get from Paul. I imagine him always worked up about something or another. I like the imagery of the Church as the Household of God. He somehow manages to work together the congregation into being a part of the family and household of God, and also being a part of the foundation and building that houses God. But Paul's reading also should infuse us with a sense of responsibility. If we are a family and a household and a dwelling place, then we should be more aware of our actions and words, and how they affect people around us. Could ugly words between two people who disagree cause cracks in a wall? Maybe. Could it cause a bad history between family members? Absolutely.

Off the soap box and on to the next reading: John 20:24-29

Since it is the feast of Saint Thomas, we have the "doubting Thomas" story today. We have all heard this one since childhood, it has been the standard you-gotta-have-faith story, and it is always presented to us in a "Isn't Thomas so silly?" kind of way. But frankly, Thomas must have thought that his friends had lost either their ever-loving minds, become drunks, or had decided to become liars. Which ever one that he went with, he just shut down completely, because really, just talking about Jesus too loud in mixed company could get you arrested. In the least. When Jesus showed up and asked Thomas to touch all of his wounds, (and, I imagine, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice), it must have been like scales falling from his eyes. He must have understood everything about Jesus all at once. Unfortunate that he had to be used as the example of tested faith for the next few thousand years, but we should thank him for going through all of that so that we don't have to.

Today's news story isn't really news, it is an article I found while googling Thomas, and I really like it: Doubting Doubting Thomas

Also, Deacon Bill was kind enough to answer some of my questions from yesterday. He asked me to be sure to "qualify them as reflections." I think that they are great, and feel like my questions are answered. Here they are:

1) Why did the demons want to go into the pigs ---- evil is a desire to control (only God controls, and even God normally chooses not to) -- so if the demons will not be allowed to control humans, they will want to control something, so they settle for the pigs, the closest thing handy

2) Why did Jesus do what they asked --- God loves all of creation, and in not choosing to control too much, God allows the demons to make their own decision about their next step in their lives, just as God allows us to make our own choices. Jesus did not do what they asked, he allowed them to do as they wished - in my reading he said "Go then"

3) Why did the demons kill the pigs --- they didn't, the pigs were trying to rid themselves of this evil, as they (the pigs) were not evil, in fact, they can only be pigs, just as God made them -- which is what we are to do - be as God made us (not in control, not evil, just being, living the moment, seeking the God within, not the evil)

4) why did the townspeople ask Jesus to leave ---- they didn't want to lose anymore pigs :-) ----- they wanted to control, he who showed his power and who they feared, as he spoke to demons and was not afraid ----we too are called to not be afraid, we are called to have faith and hope and trust --- so that we might love all of creation, so that we might not control, so that we would ask God to rid us of evil, so that we might be Love