March 30. 2008

Second Sunday of Easter

The Rev. A. Thomas Carlson

Scriptures: I Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

“Jesus stand among us

In Your risen power.

May this time of worship

Be a holy hour.”

We’ve all heard it. Some have sung it. Did we get it? This choral introit invites the Christ of Easter into our midst. And, it is based on our Gospel for today. Those who had it happen to them didn’t ask for it, didn’t plan for it, and certainly didn’t sing for it! When it happened, it made a difference. Why else would we sing those words and make such a request over 2000 years later.

How did the followers of Jesus see the hour when He appeared? It was an hour of fearfulness not holiness! Our gatherings are not characterized as a “lock down” as was the scene described late that first Easter! Scripture tells us the doors were locked out of fear! How could these Christ followers move from the mentality of fear to a life of fearlessness? What would push them out of hiding?

These first Christ followers were confronted with a Risen Lord who defied their locked doors. It was He alone who transformed a fearful hour into a holy hour. In today’s Gospel, Easter coincides with Pentecost. As one notes: “Jesus appears, breathes, sends, and commissions—all in one burst of holy energy.” (S. Andrews). In doing so—Jesus ended the lock down, turned the disciples out of their “safe house.” He didn’t remove the potential dangers that were out there, but He equipped them to meet those dangers. What He did for them, He will do for us!

But today’s Gospel highlights the one disciple who, for a reason we will never know, missed this transforming first Easter night. When told what occurred, Thomas made a demand that our introit cannot match: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.” (20:25).

First the Risen Christ had to deal with the disciples’ fear, now He is challenged to confront Thomas’ doubt! Some scholars say that John’s Gospel gives Thomas a bad rap. They conclude that most, if not all of us, have moments of doubt. Since I’m named after him, I like this description of Thomas, “an honest and devoted disciple for whom the resurrection seemed simply too good to be true.” Then I am encouraged by the words of Henry Drummond who offered this difference between unbelief and doubt: “Christ Himself never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe, unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honesty; unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light; unbelief is being content with darkness.”

You will recall the recent revelations about the late Mother Teresa: doubts plagued her while she ministered to those suffering and dying. As it has been noted, her doubts were not unique, she was not alone. People of faith do struggle with doubt but they continue to serve. It is simply that there are times when we wrestle with that which matters most in our lives! So, we can conclude that Jesus always mattered to Thomas, even as he doubted the resurrection!

Then, we ask, how did this hour of doubt turn into a holy hour? Again, it happens as Jesus appears to the disciples. And, when it happens, Thomas doesn’t need to put his fingers in the mark of the nails—it isn’t important for him to put his hand in Jesus’ side. The appearance is enough to make it a holy hour for Thomas. He simply says, “My Lord and my God!” (Verse 28).

When we hear or sing the introit, will Jesus really come and stand among us? Will the hour of worship truly be a holy hour? I believe that where God’s people are gathered (few or many), there the Risen Christ can be discovered and experienced.

As Susan Andrews writes in the Christian Century, “Jesus keeps appearing again and again—to unlock barriers between faith and doubt, between life and death, between past and future, between fear and joy. Jesus keeps appearing, a dependable reminder of our dependable God.” Amen.