April 17, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Vive la Difference

This past Sunday’s gospel came from Luke 24:36b-48.  In this particular post-resurrection story Jesus appears among the disciples and says, “Peace be with you.”  The disciples are terrified, and Jesus then says, “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.”  And after saying this, he shows them his hands and his feet.  He then commissions them to proclaim the good news beginning in Jerusalem.

The Sunday before this we heard from John 29:19-31.  In that post resurrection story, we see Jesus appear among the disciples and saying, “Peace be with you,” and he shows them his hands and his side.  After this he commissions the disciples by sending them out as the Father has sent him.  Thomas, though, was not with them.  We then hear the second half of the story when Thomas is with them, Jesus appears again, and shows him his hands and side.

These two stories are the same but different, and that’s important.

I was watching some crime show a few weeks ago and one of the investigators said, “If I’m interviewing several persons of interest and they all tell me the exact same story, they’re lying; because only lies which have been rehearsed are repeated verbatim.”

I’ve heard people say they don’t believe the gospel stories because they don’t match up.  Were there guards at the tomb or weren’t there?  Was it Mary Magdalene and Mary who went to the tomb, or was it Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome?  Or maybe it was Mary Magdalene, Mary, Joanna, and other women?  Or was it just Mary Magdalene?  Did they tell anyone or not?  And on and on and on.

But these differences tell me that there is a central Truth to the resurrection stories and the gospels as a whole.  Because if all four gospels agreed verbatim on the same story, then they, like the persons of interest above, would be lying.

So the next time you’re worried about the gospels not agreeing on every aspect of their story and wonder whether or not they are true, remember that stories that match up verbatim are often lies created in an effort to hide something.  In this case, the differences really do lead to the Truth.

Blessings,