Acts 2:14a,22-32
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
Psalm 111 or 118:19-24
Can you picture it in your mind - the disciples hiding in a locked room for fear of the Jews retaliating against them? Picture yourself with them - I think we would be just as scared and terrified. If Jesus was crucified and killed, what would they do to us if they found out our hiding place?
Jesus suddenly came and stood among us. It would be as if Jesus walked into our service this morning and said, "Peace be with you." The disciples -we- needed to hear Jesus tell them that. In fact, he offers them peace three times in this passage. They really hadn't had a moment's peace since Jesus was first arrested.
Jesus is telling us today too - "Peace be with you." He's telling us to take our fears, insecurities, concerns and problems and to turn them over to him. It's time to ask ourselves - where could we use Jesus' "peace" right now - in a relationship, in some inner fear of disease or depression, in our work, in our family or social relationships? Where could you use Jesus now in your life?
And then Jesus tells them what he wants them to do - "As the Father has sent me - so I send you." You need to go out into the world and make my word and work known. Jesus breathed on them and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this mission. He also breathes on us every time we pray for comfort, receive communion or just plain "pray for help."
Thomas wasn't with them when Jesus has come so the disciples were excited to tell him about it. "We've seen the Lord and he spoke to us," they told him. His response sounds like one I would make - "Sure, right on - tell me another story!"
It's almost like seeing a movie or meeting a very famous person and telling people who weren't there about it. They just don't freely believe that the movie was just so mesmerizing or that one had actually met this celebrity and famous person. (Talk about your meeting with the Governor and Garrison Keillor).
Some things just don't lend themselves to third person accounts. People have to experience a movie or encounter on their own for them to fully believe it. This is what
Thomas is saying when he tells them, "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."
Thomas almost sounds angry. He had believed in Jesus, and all his hopes vanished when Jesus was killed. Thomas felt "let down." He couldn't believe that this had happened to Jesus.
A week later, Thomas was with the disciples when Jesus returned. Jesus told them again, "Peace be with you," and he went straight away to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."
Like the other first witnesses, Thomas was to go from doubt to belief. The Gospel tells us that every one of the disciples first reacted to the announcement of the resurrection with questions and doubt. Jesus helped them and Thomas to believe. He didn't chide or criticize Thomas for not believing. Jesus gave Thomas what he asked in order to be able to believe. He showed up and loved them too.
After this, Jesus said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Some preachers have callled this Jesus' Last Beatitude - "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
These words are about us - you and me. We haven't seen Jesus in human form - yet we believe. And God gives us inner strength to believe what we can't see - and for being open and willing to see that which is only visible through the eyes of faith.
St. Augustine wrote about faith -
"Understanding is the reward to faith
therefore seek not to understand that you might believe,
but believe that you may understand."
So, here we are, gathered on the first day of the week in community to celebrate the Eucharist, the sacrament of our Savior's presence during his absence.
"He comes" in the midst of his own but under signs that both reveal and conceal him. Only faith can see and feel his presence.
Are you willing to share that belief with others? How far are we willing to go to let Jesus transform our lives and to go beyond these walls and share the Good News with others?
Happy are those who have seen the risen one and recognized victory in his wounds.
But happy are we who believe without having seen, and still without seeing him love Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.