April 19, 2009
The Second Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2;
John 20:19-31
This gospel reading is, of course, the basis of our rather disparaging title “Doubting Thomas,” with which we label a person who won’t believe something without factual proof, a skeptic. I really think Thomas deserves a better memorial; after all he is mentioned in all four gospels, albeit just listed as one of the twelve in the Synoptics. But in John he gets a little more press; he is the one who speaks up and says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him,” when Jesus is preparing to go Into the “danger zone,” Judea, to raise Lazarus from the dead. It is also Thomas who speaks up when Jesus is talking to his disciples of going to the Father and preparing a place for them. Jesus says to them, “You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas does not hesitate to protest, probably saying what everyone else is thinking, “Lord we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” He reminds me a bit of Peter who so often blurts out what’s on his mind! And I rather like him because of that. But it is today’s story for which he is really remembered!
It is still the day of the Resurrection, maybe twelve or so hours later, and ten of the disciples are gathered together in fear behind locked doors in the house in Jerusalem, the house “where they had met,” we read. Is this the house where they had shared the last supper? the house where Jesus washed their feet? a house of many memories? Suddenly Jesus is standing in the midst of them saying, “Peace be with you!” He then immediately shows them his hands with the marks of the nails and his pierced side. Presumably he wants it understood once and for all that he who is now standing in the midst of them is the one who three days ago was crucified. In other words he is the risen Christ, no question about it. Of course, they are overjoyed, but not so fast! Jesus has come into their midst with a purpose, not just for a happy reunion: his work here on earth is done, so he tells them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And he breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Do not confuse this with Pentecost when they will find themselves speaking in foreign languages so that all who hear them will understand. The gospel reports that as a big public event occurring fifty days after the Resurrection. No, this is a private occasion; much like our healing prayers where we pray for strength and courage, guidance and perseverance as well as healing of the mind, body and soul, in order to do God’s work. The difference here, however, is that Jesus is anticipating their needs and filling them with the necessary power to face the world confident in his presence in their lives.
Now, Thomas wasn’t there and Jesus was gone by the time Thomas arrived. And for whatever reason he could not or would not believe his fellow disciples when they told him they had seen the Lord. And I’m sure they tried very hard to persuade him.
A week passes and they are again gathered in the house. This time Thomas is there. And I like to think that there were women there too, especially Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, probably those same women who were gathered at the cross and maybe others. And I do wonder, why are they all still there in
Gaps in the narrative, such as we have here, provide us with the opportunity to imagine what could have happened. When I was in Seminary, I attended a workshop at a synagogue where we did exactly that, acted out what might have occurred, what people might have said, in places where the bible is “blank.” That can be very energizing, even inspiring.
But, back to the disciples, here they are, once again behind locked doors, and once again Jesus appears among them. He immediately singles out Thomas! And he doesn’t just show his hands and side; he says to Thomas, ”Put your fingers here on my hands, reach out your hand and touch my side.” And Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!” But he’s not yet off the hook, as Jesus responds, “So you believe now that you’ve seen; what about all those who are to come and will never get to see? Blessed are they!”
So, was Thomas set up so that we might be blessed? I don’t think so. Instead I think maybe Thomas was hurting so much because of the terrible events of the last few days that he needed desperately to see his Lord for himself, to be reassured that he really was alive, truly risen from the dead. But I do think that Jesus took the situation, namely Thomas’ absence and subsequent doubt, and turned it to his own advantage. Turned it so that there should be no doubt – no pun intended – that all those who were to come afterwards, including us, should and would be blessed for believing without the benefit of seeing.
This morning (at the later service) we will be (are to be) witnesses of and participants in the baptisms of three little babies, Ruby, Joseph, and Kaden. I hope that their parents and godparents will share this gospel story again and again with them, not just that they know what a “doubting Thomas” is, but because it is such a human response to the gospel.
I’m sure that, if we are all totally honest (with ourselves and each other), there are few here today who have not had their doubts at some point in their lives about the Resurrection story or some other miracle story. That is not to denigrate or question anyone’s faith because it is in faith that we do believe. And it is paradoxically through doubt, and by the grace of God, that our faith can and does grow stronger.
These babies as they grow, especially through their teens and college years, are very likely to be modern day Thomas’ saying, “Show me!” “Prove it.” But as long as they have been well grounded in the love that Jesus exhibited in his life and above all in his death and resurrection, and have been nurtured in the community of Christ, and have learned to share his love with all persons, they will, I am convinced, sooner rather than later, proclaim, as did Thomas, “My Lord and my God!“
May they grow, may we all grow, in peace and love and grace and faith and in the undoubting knowledge of the presence of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Sonia F. G. Stevenson, M. Div.
Church of the Good Shepherd