The only reason we have a building is to provide a place that we can practice the love of God and neighbor to which Jesus called all his followers. It is place where we cultivate glad and generous hearts and goodwill toward all people. Believe it or not, it even provides the environment where we can learn to love our enemies.

As beautiful as our church building is its importance lies in the fact that it provides the place where each week we gather in anticipation of an encounter with the risen Christ. We are stewards of a building whose beauty invites us into a transforming relationship with God, a purpose that no civic gathering place could come close to matching.

In Jesus' conversation with Thomas Jesus responds to Thomas's honest doubt by inviting him to an even more intimate encounter, to touch his wounds. Though the story does not indicate whether Thomas actually did touch Jesus, could it be that God can use even our doubt to draw us into a more intimate relationship with the risen Christ?

Matthew 28:1-10 Whom do you seek?

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While his followers must have been excited about Jesus entry into Jerusalem, it most likely left the mass of the population of Jerusalem baffled. Matthew may be exaggerating a bit to say that the whole city was in turmoil, but there must have been many people wondering. Who is this who enters the holy city on a donkey? Will he bring us peace or trouble? It seems that he was to bring both.