Let Us Be Dogs!

     I have greatly enjoyed worshiping and getting to know the congregation of Zion Lutheran church in Greensburg, Pennsylvania over the last year. Throughout this school year, I have lived in Gettysburg Seminary while my husband and step-son live in Ohio. This was a hard decision we have faced but a needed one. I began thinking not only of my family but also my lab Lucky. Dogs hold a special place in their master's hearts.

     A person can learn a lot from dogs. They teach us how to live each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, how to seize the moment and follow are hearts. This can be appreciated through simple walks in the woods, fresh snowfalls, or a nap in the sunlight. Dogs especially can teach you about friendships, selflessness, and above all unwavering loyalty. When a dog is bonded to their master, peace is given to both master and people's best friend.

       Christians should be at peace because of the knowledge of Jesus's sacrifice and how it has freed us from our sins. Do we really feel at peace? John 20:24-29 has a little band of frightened men huddled together in a room feeling far from secure.  They were frightened of the outside world and who might come to get them. The door is bolted shut to be sure they are safe but surely they feel far from secure. The disciples have found themselves gathered together due to witnessing their teacher be crucified before them.

      One of the disciples, Thomas was missing from this merry band. Jesus entered the room even though the doors were locked! Jesus says peace be with you! The others tried to tell Thomas what they saw but he did not believe. He will not believe unless he sees the wounds and know he is who he says he is. When Jesus returns, again through locked doors...Thomas demands the test. His faith is inadequate even after hearing the message of Jesus's return. Thomas was not at peace. He insisted to only be at peace after seeing the marks of the crucifixion.

      Thomas's believed his teacher was gone and not coming back! He needed and demanded physical evidence before believing. Thomas was pessimistic and believed that it was better to be a realist chose to believe in what he knew. Christ was crucified and gone.

     I would like to say we are at peace today. Yet, I know that many of us are not at peace. The world is a frightening place. There are wars and uncertainty with government budgets. We are scared of strangers in our town that may seem shady. Perhaps we have been hurt by someone. We watch such violence such as at Sandy Hook Elementary. All of this leaves us feeling not at peace. Our lives  are filled of pain and uncertainty.

      There are times when the death of a loved one, the pain and suffering from a disease, or watching those around us deal will constant burdens is extremely burden. There is worry's such as financial worries and contemplating if we will have a job in the future. Will we be able to give our children what they need, or perhaps just the fear of the future. We all have moments of skepticism, of being pessimistic. These harsh moments in life bring out the doubting Thomas in all of us. They force us to bolt the door to try to be safe.
     The Christian in us tells us things will be better. We hear peace be with you, but in our hearts the world makes us think twice. To some it is difficult to comprehend peace because they have no tangible evidence that pain, suffering, or burdens will end.
       Dogs are simple. They will give us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. The absolute focus of their love, faith, and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. My pups favorite things is a tennis ball. A silly circular yellow ball that can bring hours of enjoyments. I pull the ball out and say, "Lucky, you want to play." At the sight of the ball he gets so excited and runs around with more excitement than his little heart can take.
      The ball is a symbol of love, devotion, and he will do anything because his love for that ball and me is the most important thing in life. Playing and loving him like this brings him peace. Peace to him and to me. Now, your probably wondering what this ball has to do with Thomas....Well there is one problem with how I was thinking about the ball. My dog doesn't need to see the tennis ball! All I have to do is look at him and ask, "do you want to play ball?" Up he goes running and excited. Not because he saw the ball but because he has heard the good news from me that the ball is coming!
      Thomas was not so excited in the gospel today. Jesus enters the room both times by stating peace be with you. Thomas was not at peace though until he saw the proof. Jesus's reply, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed."

Here’s the key...

Thomas had to see the wounds from the Crucifixion. He did not believe even though he had heard the good news that Christ had rose again.

We as Christians in today's world, doubt and get saddened because we do not see the physical earthly proof of why when sadness approaches our lives.

A dog doesn’t have to see the ball to get excited. Because he knows the good news that his master said the ball is coming!

Our good news shows, Grace is for all people in the world even the doubters in the world. With this good news we do not have to be faithless, but believing. Believing in our heavenly creator who sent his son to show us the true peace which is found through the crucifixion. The words from Jesus is so important…Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

      We do not have to stick our fingers in the body of Jesus to believe in his love. In those times when life get out of control we need to remember the customary greeting which was said by Jesus, the same greeting we say here every Sunday. Peace be with you! Peace comes when we accept to walk in the sunshine of God’s forgiving grace.

       We do not chose Jesus, he chose us. We are not to let our troubles or our past to get us down, shake it off, rise up, and humbly accept God’s grace. We need to leave our hopes, fears, and trials in God’s hand. This world is difficult. We cannot make it through without Christ, it cannot be done. He does not give impossibilities, he gives possible. Christ will help you confront everything. For when two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.

Let us be like a dog with his master full of love, selfless, and above all have unwavering loyalty to God.