Month: April 2023

[Author’s note: This meditation is adapted from an earlier piece published in Questions of Faith: Encountering Christ at the Point of Doubt and Confusion,” pp. 45-48, Mazarin Press, Raleigh, N.C., © 2018, Thomas A. Robinson. All rights reserved]. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice [John 10:2-4]. In many respects, the story of Jesus, particularly as detailed…

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, …. “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added [Acts 2:14a, 36, 41]. As I have shared with the members of “my” Wednesday morning Bible Study, I vividly remember the shortest sermon I’ve ever heard, although it took place almost 40 years ago. It was delivered by Father Oscar, then one of the priests at Belmont Abbey College and Basilica. I suspect that it was…

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have you; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed” [John 20:27-29, NIV]. Maybe it’s because I share his name. Maybe it’s because that name comes from the Hebrew word “ta’om,” which means “twin,” and, as many of you know, I’m an identical twin. Or maybe it’s because the moniker given to this apostle—“the Doubter”—seems all too simplistic. All too often the world…

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” [Matthew 28:8-10, NRSV]. For the past nine years or so, I’ve taken a daily walk. To be sure, during that long period of time, I’ve missed a few days—but not many. For example, in February, Jane and I both tested positive for you know what, and I missed three days…