Believing

New birth, new life, good news! These themes run throughout today’s scripture readings. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the joyful early days of the newly born church, when members devoted themselves to instruction, the communal life, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.

The passage from Peter’s first letter echoes that joy, and assures those who now believe though they never saw Jesus that their faith will lead to their salvation. But amid all the joy, the Gospel reading calls us to sober reality. Not everyone can believe so easily. Even an apostle can doubt this astonishing news of the Resurrection. Across the centuries, Jesus reaches forward to touch us today: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”