Part of our Gospel reading for today is an account of what Jesus' friends experienced the evening of his rising. Then, just like we have moved one week into the future from our celebration, we hear that they're together again one week after being surprised by his resurrection.
The text tells us, "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,... Jesus came and stood among them." Life had been rough for these faithful followers already that day. All kinds of problems had very likely sprung up, that they weren't prepared for. The Roman authorities were probably blaming the guards for letting thieves into the burial place. The Jewish temple authorities were probably accusing the Romans of stealing the body of that rabble-rouser, Jesus of Nazareth. The disciples and friends of Jesus were all trying to stay out of sight to avoid raising suspicion that THEY had taken his body and moved it to some other burial place.
Everyone was accusing everyone else, and each group was afraid of what might REALLY be true if none of THEM had taken Jesus out of the tomb. While it's true Jesus' closest followers had heard him say at least three times that he would rise from death, even THEY could not be sure. Maybe the women who'd gone to the tomb to anoint him had had some kind of hallucination. Maybe the travelers on the road to Emmaus earlier that Sunday evening had worked themselves up into some sort of grief-caused fantasies. No one could be sure. In the meantime, these guys weren't taking any chances. They were going to stay put here behind these locked doors where no one could get in without an invitation.
But, then, all of a sudden, all their hopes and fears and expectations and dreads were thrown head over heels as none other than Jesus himself appeared right there in that locked room with them. What was he saying? Peace? How could they have peace when there were so many unanswered questions inside, so many threats from outside, so many pressures and promises and confusion?
"Jesus stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.' After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord."(vv 19-20) NOW they knew for themselves that it was true. They had seen the risen Lord Jesus with their very own eyes. Hard as it was to believe, this man in their midst HAD to be Jesus. His wounds were the same; his message was the same. How many times had they heard their Teacher telling them to go out and tell others about God's love? And, here he was, just like in the days before all this turmoil, telling them not to give up the mission. "‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you,' Jesus said. Then he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
These early followers of Jesus were going to need that breath of life, the Holy Spirit, in their lives each day in order to have the courage to face all the obstacles others would put in their way. Without the Spirit of God in their lives they wouldn't have been able to face the accusations and the disbelief confronting them from both the Romans and the Jewish authorities. But, WITH the Holy Spirit, they were strong enough to face whatever life could throw at them. They had seen the risen Lord and they knew there was more to life.
Did the presence of the Holy Spirit in their day-to-day lives mean they never doubted? Did it mean they never denied Jesus again? Probably not. Like you and me, these early followers of the risen Savior had pressure, stress and criticism to deal with. Most of them were faithful Jews who had grown up going up to the Temple for the Passover at least once in their lives in addition to studying at their local synagogues. They had learned the scriptures by heart. They had lived with the Torah, the explanations of scripture, along with their neighbors. But, among these early followers were also people who had come into the community from other places.
Remember, Jesus' love had reached out to Samaritans, Ethiopians, Roman citizens and who-knows-how-many travelers through this crossroads of civilization. Jesus' early followers were NOT all of one ethnic identity. So, there were bound to be differences among them. They'd grown up with different family configurations, different holiday traditions, different business ethics. Yet, they all held one thing in common. They were all called into a relationship with Jesus, God's son, the babe born in a manger, the Savior of all creation.
Life would not be easy for these early Christians. Within the next two centuries they would see their friends and neighbors captured, tortured, even killed for their faith. Some would give in. They'd deny their identity as followers of the Rabbi from Nazareth. But, others would take courage from the words of Jesus spoken to Thomas just one week after the Resurrection.
Thomas hadn't been with the others in the locked room when Jesus appeared that fateful evening. Like the rest of the followers after Jesus' death, he didn't know WHAT to think. It just wasn't possible, was it?, that a man he'd walked with, fished with, joked with and eaten with could really come back from the dead. Not in the way he'd promised. That couldn't really happen, could it? Yet, here he was a week later listening to the accounts of surprising joy that had everyone else in the room amazed and not quite so frightened.
Once again, Jesus appeared as out of nowhere. And, what was his greeting? "Peace be with you." Here he was inviting Thomas to touch his wounds. Could it really be his friend, his Rabbi, his Lord? Thomas was convinced! "My Lord and my God!" he exclaimed. Then Jesus, always thinking of others, maybe even thinking of you and me, asked, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
You and I are blessed! We have not seen the Risen Lord. But, because of the faithful witness of others down through the centuries, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have come to believe. We believe that God has forgiven our sins and has redeemed the world through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the son of God. We believe that the same Spirit of God, the breath of life that Jesus gave to his friends that evening in the locked room, dwells within each of us.
Friends and family watched one day as water was poured over your head and words from scripture were spoken: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." You and I, like little Heidi today, became part of a community of believers. Within that community, the Church, we were surrounded by believers. For most of us, our parents and Godparents followed through with the promises they made before God that day. We learned the Bible stories. We learned the prayers and Ten Commandments and Creeds. We laughed together and wept together, celebrated life and mourned death. The Church recognized each of us as part of the Lord's family, a fellow member of the body of Christ, a child of the same heavenly Father, and a worker in the kingdom of God.
But, the world challenged us. It caused us to doubt. We learned to reason, like Thomas, that some things just CAN'T be true, can they? We might even have hidden away behind closed doors and pretended to the world that we were not REALLY part of any Christian community. Life among other people might be easier that way. Fewer expectations. More freedom. Less stress. Yet, here we are today.
We have come together to pass on to a new sister, the inspiration each of us received in our baptism along with its promise of forgiveness. We have come together to celebrate the first Holy Communion of four of our children who are hungering and thirsting as we did, for the Sacrament, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are family. We are God's family. We are the Church.
We have not seen and yet we believe. Jesus sends us out to share his love with the world. He bestows on us the Holy Spirit. We modern-day followers of Jesus need that breath of life, the Holy Spirit, in our lives each day. With Heidi, Jenny, Cassie, Andrew and Jessica, we need courage to face all the obstacles the world tries to put in our way. With the Holy Spirit in our lives, baptized in water, refreshed through the bread and the wine, we will be strong enough to face whatever life could throw at us. Through the witness of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and all our ancestors in the faith, we HAVE seen the risen Lord. And we believe.
Now, strengthened, blessed and sent out, we can share God's love in Christ with everyone we meet. We can do that because we have the peace that passes understanding, the blessing of the risen Jesus himself. "Peace be with you....Do not doubt but believe. ... As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Give thanks to God. Amen
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs:
Gracious God, You have provided for us all that we need: home and family, food and clothing, health and happiness. Yet in this world many are homeless, lonely, hungry, naked, sick and grieving. Inspire us, by the example of the earliest members of your church, to share from our wealth so that others may more fully experience your love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Acts 4:32-35)
Fount of every blessing, it is your desire that all nations should live together in peace. Yet, in this world, wars rage between nations, cities are ravaged by crime, families are broken by violence, children cry in fear. Send your Spirit, like precious oil, to heal the wounds, to teach peace. And, Lord, let us always be an example to others of your all-inclusive love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 133)
Merciful Creator, in your goodness you provide forgiveness and new life for us even before we ask. Help us to show our gratitude for your grace by testifying to your mercy. Raise up for your church faithful leaders, strong volunteers, and willing supporters so that the story may be told forever. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (1 John 1:1-2:2)
God of peace, through the resurrection of your Son, you promise healing and wholeness. The world continually tries to convince us to doubt your power. We confess that sometimes we actually hide ourselves away and do not share our needs with others, even others within your family, the Church. Yet, your inspiration continues to encourages us to bring our needs before you. We also lift to you the needs of your other children. Today we lift in prayer...
Are there others we should include in our prayers?
Heal our wounds. Give us your peace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (John 20:19-31)
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)