Holy Week has come and gone. We've reflected and worshiped around those all important stories of Jesus, the Last Supper, foot washing, his death, and ultimately resurrection! And that's only the beginning. 

The gospels continue with more stories of Jesus appearing to disciples with final words of wisdom and the assurance that they can continue on in the ministry of God, despite their doubting. This week we get one of those doubting stories with the classic "doubting Thomas" story. But I wonder, what if doubting Thomas is simply a parable to embody the instructions Jesus gives when he says "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"? What if Jesus is embodying how the disciples are to encourage graceful growth for all with his encounter with Thomas?

Resurrection and Easter means not only that we are forgiven, that love wins, and that God is bigger even than death, it also means that we have ever more work, growth,  and ministry to do to be faithful. Easter means "forgiving and retaining".

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