We are evolving internally

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.11.


Reading 1

The apostles worked many signs and miracles among the people. One in heart, they all used to meet in the Portico of Solomon.

No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise

and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles

so that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past.

People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

(Acts 5:12-16)


Gospel

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'

and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,

and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive any one's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain any one's sins, they are retained.

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.'

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said.

Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.'

Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'

Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.

These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

(John 20:19-31)


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My Reading Notes:
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I had always found it wonderful to see how the apostles acted in their time. People came from all the places, to hope for a healing from them. Even Peter's shadow, could have such healing power. They didn't even need hospitals.

And this is my question. Why is it that this miracles not seen today? And I must correct myself: Miracles are still here with us, but not in the form of the ancient world any more.

What is the meaning of the line? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

In the evolution of mankind, one very important aspect is that we are evolving internally. The mind is powerful. And we are making progress on it. We ought to use our mind more then physical feelings. I think it personally that is the reason of why the apostles today do not perform miracles like Saint Peter.

Now I would come to the point about "believing". One kind of believing never need thinking and acting. The other believing needs to think, and more importantly,
to act. Thus a true Christian tends always be also a saint. He can act according to what he thinks.