The Evidence of the Story

“…these (stories) are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” –John 20:31

My whole life is the journey to belief, though I have not seen. My whole being is stretched to try to understand Jesus’ presence in the world, though I cannot touch his nail marks.

But what is the proof of His presence?

Love.

Peace.

Forgiveness.

Humility.

Presence.

Truth.

Jesus,

Your life was marked by these stories, by these stories we tell about you, the evidence of your peace poured out over people.

And so, if my life is to be marked by believing though I cannot see you, I manifest your spirit through good.

Through listening.

Through making peace.

In all things.

And there, your presence is my reality.

And there, Holy Spirit, you do your work, and the love of Jesus becomes tangible again–

not in his original body, but in my body, in the body of my children, in the body of the beggar down the road, in the body of every act of forgiveness, in the body of processing peace towards the other, the stranger, in the body of Love doing its urgent and holy work.

There, Jesus is just as real as he ever was, and we commune with him, sinner-saints that we are.

There, we gather at the table, where feet are washed, where sins are forgiven, where bread is broken and wine is poured out.

There, our humanity meets his humanity, and salvation is born.

Hallelujah and amen.