<p><em>Todays reflection examines the tension between Jesus resurrection appearances to Mary Magdalene and Thomas and what those two stories tell us about the importance of our bodies. Instead of a neatly packaged conclusion we are compelled as in the gospel stories to acknowledge the necessity and gift of our physicality but required to discern for ourselves the relationship between our bodies and Christs body.</em></p><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=oldwebkit><p><strong>April 16 2023: Second Sunday of Easter Cycle A</strong></p><p>Acts 2:42-47</p><p>Psalm 118:2-413-1522-24(1)</p><p>1 Peter 1:3-9</p><p>John 20:19-31</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Do Not Touch Me Put Your Hand Into My Side</h3><p>&nbsp;<em>A reflection by Ann Marie Szpakowska</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Footprints by Edwin Hawkins</p><p>They led him to Bethany.</p><p>Thats where He stayed.</p><p>They led Him to Gethsemane.</p><p>Thats where He prayed.</p><p>They led Him to Calvary.</p><p>Salvation complete.</p><p>Whoa..</p><p>Surely if I follow my life will be sweet saved by the prints of His wounded feet.</p><p>Saved by his wound feet.</p><p>(<a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf9OtAQssj8 target=_blank>Listen to the 1977 recording here</a>)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Todays Gospel reading tells of Thomas post resurrection meeting with the risen Savior. &nbsp;In scouring the New Testament we find Thomas mentioned in the several listings of Jesus disciples none of which are complete. He is among the inner circle sometimes simply referred as The Twelve. The first appearance of Thomas where he is given a voice is in the story of Lazarus resurrection. However we often miss it because John 11:1-45 is rarely proclaimed in full and we do not hear Thomas in verse 16 say to the disciples Let us go so that we may die with him. If this is what was remembered about Thomas what moniker would he have been given? Courageous? &nbsp;Faithful?</p><p>Instead in John 20:19-31 his legacy is sealed as doubting Thomas. Were told Thomas was not present at Jesus first appearance to the disciples who were behind locked doors in fear. Jesus greets them with Peace be with you. Mary Magdalene had brought them the news I have seen the Lord yet she herself had recognized Jesus as her Teacher not by sight but by the sound of his voice. She heard Jesus say her name Mary. Did the disciples believe her? &nbsp;Although her title as Apostle to the Apostles may point to such belief the last 2000 years of debate of Mary Magdalenes life and authority in the Early Church underscores our Churchs patriarchalblindness and sin of misogyny.</p><p>John 20:24 begins the story Thomas seeing Jesus resurrected. Jesus told the disciples that Thomass belief depended on him seeing the nail prints in Jesus hand and wound in his side. &nbsp;Jesus invites Thomas to probe his hands with his fingers and side with his hand. Some preachers suggest that Thomas did so yet the text does not indicate it. Verse 28 records Thomass profession of faith My Lord and My God. These are the same words the Roman Catholic Church encourages believers to whisper at the Elevation of Jesus Body and Blood at the consecration during Mass.</p><p>Numerous commentaries have attempted to explain why in John 20: 17 Jesus says to Mary Magdalene Do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to my Father. &nbsp;Go instead to my brothers and tell them I am returning to my Father and your Father to my God and your God.The word hold is sometimes translated as touch or cling. However in John 20:27 Jesus tells Thomas to touch him. The eight intervening days had not changed the reality that Jesus had not ascended to be with God. Some have proposed that Thomas faith required a tactile confirmation whereas Mary Magdalenes faith needed an auditory confirmation and so Jesus met each of them in their need.</p><p>I would suggest that faith for each of us is founded on our corporality and Jesus incarnation passion death and resurrection. All our senses play a part and become a bridge to our belief systems and spiritual lives. Faith cannot merely be mental ascent to human dogma doctrine or theology for who has known the mind of God? (Roman 11:34). Yet we also know God invites all people to Eternal Life to see God face to face. Jesus resurrected body is the preeminent sign of this Divine promise. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p></div><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=mobile-full><img class=mobile-full src=https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/uploads/static/botsannmarie_szpakowska_84c17accd4a20ae33659c07256b108d2.png alt= width=166 vspace=0 hspace=0></div><p><em><strong>Ann Marie Szpakowska</strong>&nbsp;has been active and in leadership of Dignity/Buffalo for nearly 40 years. She also participates in the Women's Caucus and has been an active contributor to Liturgical planning for Dignity's Conventions Conferences and on Feminist Liturgy Committees over many years.&nbsp;She has presented workshops both locally and at Dignity Conventions.</em></p><p><em>She has also been a member of St. Martin de Porres parish since 4 inner city churches merged and built a new sanctuary in 1993. St. Martin de Porres is a predominantly African American community in Buffalo New York.</em></p><p></p><p style=text-align: center;><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>