Do you believe this? Yes, Lord. I believe!

A reflection given at the Service of Prayer for Christian Unity held by Nenagh Churches together on 28th February 2025 in St Mary's Church of Ireland, prepared by the Community of Bose, an ecumenical monastery  of brothers and sisters in northern Italy. It had been rescheduled from 24th January due to Storm Eowyn.

The service was led by Deborah O'Driscoll  of the Odhran Pastoral Area (RC). Lynn Kelly (CofI), Donal Mackey  (RC) and Clifford Guest (Methodist) read from John 11:17-27. Fr Pat Gilbert PP (RC) read from John 20:24-29. Joc Sanders (CofI) gave a brief reflection, and led the congregation in saying the Beatitudes. The light of Christ was taken from the Easter Candle to light candles held by the people, as all present said the ecumenical Nicene Creed, in this 1,700th anniversary year of the Council of Nicea. The people then brought the candles up to the chancel and placed them around a large cross. Rose Langley (CofI) and Siobhan Darby (RC) read  prayers from ancient authors. To send the people back into the world, Fr Vitalii Svyryd (Ukrainian Orthodox) read from 1 Peter 1:3–9. Music was provided by the Odhran Pastoral Choir.  

This will be quite a brief reflection on the words of scripture we have heard. Please help me by responding as loudly as you can when I ask you to!

When St Thomas saw the risen Jesus Christ with his own eyes, he confessed his faith in the words, “My Lord and my God!”. To which Jesus replied, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

We have not seen Jesus in the flesh, as Thomas did, but we believe what Thomas confessed. From whatever Christian tradition we come, we believe. Why do we believe? Because, through the Holy Spirit, God our loving Father has revealed himself to us in the life and ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ. And God continues to reveal himself to us, this and every day. So, when the risen Jesus asks us, “Do you believe this?”, we can all respond like Martha, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

“Do you believe this?”, says Jesus. Let us shout out the answer together, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

Help me, please, by responding to Jesus as Martha did.

“Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

Let’s do it again, only louder!

“Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

We are blessed, blessed because we have not seen, yet we have come to believe!

Jesus began his ‘Sermon on the Mount’ by teaching his followers, those who believe in him, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). They are a wonderful summary of the Christian values that we must seek to live by, if we wish to receive God’s blessings. They are, I suggest, a recipe for holy living.

I am a member of the Community of Brendan the Navigator. We are an evolving, dispersed community in the Church of Ireland, open to members from all Christian traditions across the island of Ireland. We say the Beatitudes together responsively every time we meet for worship, as we do every month in Killodiernan Church, Puckane. The Beatitudes are so easy to say, yet so very hard to live up to, aren’t they? Yet we will all be blessed to the extent that we do so. Surely one thing that should unite us all is a shared determination to live up to them.

So, together, let us proclaim the Beatitudes, responsively – you can find them on the back page of the service booklet:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, 

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.  

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

When Jesus says to us, “Do you believe this?” Let us respond “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

“Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I believe.”