An Open Door
Dear Sutton and Savannah,
Do you remember all of us sitting in the entryway closet during one of the many tornado warnings we had while living in Oklahoma City? We tried to make it fun but probably failed. It was a crowded space; barely enough room for all of us and our anxieties. I now worry that we did a better job of teaching you how to control your emotions rather than how to listen to your emotions. As a result the inner tornados can pose a bigger threat than the outer ones. If possible, open the door and give the wounded emotions space to breathe in grace.
-Dad
Inside Out Lectionary Letters
Year A - Pentecost (Texts, Art, Hymns)
Readings for Sunday, May 24, 2026
Acts 2:1-21 / Psalm 104:24-34, 35b / 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 / John 20:19-23
Summary of John 20:19-23
The disciples are gathered behind locked doors. The crucifixion of Jesus has left them afraid, confused and uncertain. We can only imagine the atmosphere in that room. Did the fear make them quiet? Did the uncertainty lead to nervous conversation? Jesus’s appearance was likely the last thing they expected.
Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul
The inner journey is filled with mixed emotions. And sometimes our inner reaction to feelings and emotions is to “lock them down.” When we feel out of control, we try to control. When we feel shame, we typically hide emotionally. Guilt can make us retreat. Perceived failure can make us timid. Many of us learned at a young age to control our emotions and to pay attention to what is acceptable and what is not.
Jesus enters the room where fear is hiding. He already knows the disciples wounds, and so he shows them his wounds. He does so in a matter-of-fact way, without a sense of resentment or vengeance toward anyone. He blesses their hiding place, both outwardly and inwardly, with peace.
In this fantastic inner journey, let’s bring together the last verse of the passage with the first verse. If you keep the doors locked on those unwieldy parts of your heart, the doors will stay locked, and you stay separated from the peace that transforms. If you unlock the doors, forgive yourself and others, the doors swing open and inner peace takes over. And when peace and love are in charge, the Kingdom of God has already come.