"Incredulity" - Our Deacon's Easter Letter

**“Incredulity”**

This has been a rather odd Lent with an unconventional Holy Week to say the least.

I want to pinch myself in my own incredulity of this time. Personally, my Lent started out with a routine schedule. I picked out a few books I wanted to read intently as part of my Lenten exercise. I even pulled out my copy of the ‘Exsultet’ to get in some practice for the Easter Vigil. However, as we all now know, this was not a normal Lenten season and Holy Week. Furthermore, our Easter season may prove to be all the more bizarre.

A few rooms in our home have morphed into a kind of high tech workspace and recording studio. Our office has turned into a workspace with loads of computers and stacks of monitors so Ben can work from home with his church duties, and I can be remote with the Trustee’s office and court. Our living room now looks like a casting crew set up – a studio-style worship space with lights, cameras and computers on tripods (I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille).

With all the unusual experiences taking place, not to mention casualties so many are sharing, I can understand how some may opt to live in disbelief.

I understand that a host of theologians share that the Gospel of John is not as historically accurate as the other gospels, and is riddled with signs. Therefore, herein lies a peculiar challenge for us, the reader of this space in time. What we read on the second Sunday of Easter about Doubting Thomas is a good example (John 20: 19-31). Some time back while visiting friends in Germany, I was fortunate enough to experience the painting “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Caravaggio: in person. I say in person because, standing before the art in the Palace of Sanssouci, I felt as though I was actually there in that dark dim light of a room, peering into what the disciples were holding to be true.

Today, what Jesus says to Thomas is still unfolding in my mind:

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

John is my favorite Gospel, simply because I keep scratching my head every time I read it. I will never pretend to solve or clearly define all of the signs. Nevertheless, in the reflection of our current events, my hope is that we (Easter People) may spend a little time to encounter the signs in this passage to find what intrigues our souls and moves us toward a new discovery in how we can live into the Kingdom of God, for us all to ‘ have life in his name’.

The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Grace and Peace

The Rev. Arthur Villarreal
Deacon

Margaret RodeheaverApril 15, 2020