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April 11, 2010 Sermon

Are the Doors Locked? (Acts 5: 27-32; John 20: 19-31)

Rev. Sharon Copeman

I didn’t always give a title to my reflections... and then someone in my congregation suggested that a title would whet their appetites for the message. That enticed me - and so since then I have dared to decide sometime before the event on a title. It forces one to make some decisions in advance - and I think I resisted originally on doing this feeling that it might mean I would close the windows and doors of my spirit too soon and therefore miss what the Holy One might offer.

I wonder if that is what we might think Thomas has done at the beginning of today’s gospel reading... and who could blame him?!! His good friend - his leader - his hope - the one into whose hands he had entrusted his life - had been publicly shamed, brutally beaten and finally murdered. That whole group of Jesus’ best buddies is holed up - terrified - paralyzed by fear - except perhaps for Thomas! Thomas was not with them, we’re told. We don’t know why he was not there, we’re simply told he was not present in that room when Jesus came that first time.

I thought it might be interesting to check for other references to Thomas. All of the gospels tell us of Jesus’ calling Thomas along with the others when he gathered his disciples. All agree that he was one of the 12. But only John’s gospel tells us anything more about Thomas. John tells us that Thomas is utterly committed to Jesus. In chapter 11 we are told it is Thomas who suggests they all go with Jesus even into the danger that may await him at the tomb of Lazarus - “Let us go with him, that we may die with him” Thomas says to his friends.

John’s next reference to Thomas is in those verses you have probably heard many times. Jesus is telling his friends that in a short time they will no longer see him - “In my father’s house are many dwelling places.” he tells them. “If it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also. And you know the way...” But Thomas says, “Lord we don’t know where you are going, How can we know the way?” To which Jesus replies “I am the way!”

The next time we encounter Thomas in John’s gospel is in our text for today. And there is one more glimpse into Thomas in next week’s gospel reading, so I’ll leave reference to that text for the one who shares reflections with you next Sunday. Let me simply say that Thomas continues to belong to the group.

I think many of us think of Thomas primarily as a doubter. I must confess that is one of the reasons I am particularly fond of Thomas... but I want to point out that Thomas is not the only one of the 11 remaining disciples who doubted. They were all hiding behind locked doors - all except Thomas, in fact - all of them doubting, until they saw the Risen Christ with their own eyes.

So now let’s think back to the detail of John’s introduction of this fellow, Thomas. Thomas is the one who is willing to confess to Jesus that he doesn’t really get it - he doesn’t know the way that Jesus is telling them about. Thomas reveals his confusion and Jesus tells him - and all of them - It’s OK. You don’t need to know everything about everything. Just believe me. I’m here for you.

I Am here for you. There’s a subtle message here for those who are familiar with the Hebrew scripture, as Jesus’ friends were. In Jesus’ declaration they would have heard the echo of God’s message to Moses... “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am who I Am.” You shall say to them, “I Am has sent me to them,”... “This is my name forever... and for all generations.”

I Am here for you - Jesus told Thomas and all his buddies. God is with you - right now - in this confusing time - in this difficult time - in this heart-wrenching time - God is here for you!

Isn’t that what we most need and want to know? God is with us in the midst of all the stuff we encounter in our day-to-day living!

So let’s go back to Thomas and his buddies... and Jesus’ words according to John’s gospel. In the midst of the worst nightmare imaginable - the horror and manifest hatred and brutality culminating in the crucifixion of God’s innocent precious child, God does not stop loving humanity. God does not give up. God does not react to violence with violence. Rather God responds to violence - even such brutal violence - with love.

And then, knowing our human need to see for our selves, the Risen Christ comes to everyone in whatever way they need, in order for each one to be reassured, to be strengthened, to be touched with healing of their spirits. Did you notice? Thomas says he needs to touch the scars - but in the end he does not actually touch - and yet he believes - “My Lord and my God!”

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe.”

So then, once we believe, what do we do next? How do we live as an Easter people? A little something you may not have know about Thomas may suggest something to us... You see, maybe we should call this fellow "Daring Thomas" instead of "Doubting Thomas". Tradition says that Thomas went farther a field than all the other disciples and founded the Church of Mar Thomas in India, which still exists today. Once we understand that the living Christ is present in all our moments, we are forever changed! We cannot ever live the same way again. It is not possible. Suddenly we experience a love that can never die and a joy that breaks through the locked doors of our hearts. Jesus breathes on us with the spirit which tugs and pulls us into new life.

The Risen Christ still comes to us... two thousand years later it still happens. For me it was in a time when my need was desperate, but I was not knowingly calling. Indeed, I was naming every friend I thought might be able to help me survive my deep depression, and discarding the names as fast as I thought of them. My mother suffered depression when I was growing up, and twice had tried to commit suicide, so in the midst of my desperation I was terrified I would make the same choice - and I was also very determined that I would not! I was driving down Dunbar Street one day, with my children in the back seat with me, and I was thinking I needed help. I thought, “I could talk to Susan, she would understand, she has children too. No! I can’t talk to Susan, she has 3 children, she’s too busy! Well, I could talk to Elizabeth, she understands about depression! No! I can’t bother Elizabeth - she’s depressed! I can’t call her!” I was naming and discarding friends, and I heard a voice that was so real I would swear my children, in the car with me, could hear it too. (I know they couldn’t, but the voice was that real!”) The voice said, “Sharon, there’s one friend, and I’m never too busy, and I never have too many problems, and I’m always there for you!” It was the voice of the Holy, the voice of the Risen Christ.

The Risen Christ still comes to us. It still happens. And it makes all the difference in our lives. It didn’t mean the sun burst forth into my world and suddenly everything was great! But it did mean that I could see a pin prick of light at the end of the tunnel, and begin to move toward it. God is real - and active in our lives and in our world - I know it for sure!

The gift we are given in the church is a group of people with whom we can be open with our stories, to rehearse the telling, in preparation for a wider sharing. We have an awesome story to tell. A story that is not widely known in our era. We live in a time of deep spiritual seeking - when people are longing to know the Holy One, and the seeking is not happening in the context of church. When we look at the stories of congregations, in every denomination, it would be easy to become disheartened. I think it is important not to become discouraged. We are living in the midst of a mission field! The hunger to know God is here within our doors, and it is deep and strong beyond our threshold.

Those disciples were behind locked doors - closed doors - and what did Jesus do? He penetrated the barricades - gave the disciples what they needed in order to be strengthened and reassured, did many signs in the presence of his disciples, John tells us, and sent them forth to tell their stories.

What is your story? Do you dare to tell the truth you know? How do you reveal the awesome, life-changing love of God to those whom you encounter as you go about your daily living? How might others speak of their experience of you?

God loves you, each and every one of you. Unlock the doors of your spirit - believe! Take in that truth. It is the good news of the Easter event. Hatred and fear are vanquished! The tomb is empty! Christ is Risen and dwells among us! Fling wide the doors of your spirit and let the good news in - and then out to every one you meet! Love gets the final word! God loves you! Let that love make a difference! Peace be with you!

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: God of life and love, we give you thanks for you have made us imprinted with your own image, lit within us the very spark and flame of your own life, and set us in the heart of your creation - a world of wonders that is our home. Hear our quiet prayers now, loving God, as we name our thanks and wonder at the beauty of the world around us, and acknowledge our need for renewed awareness of the elements - air, water, food, all that nurtures us in body and spirit - and needs us to nurture and sustain it every bit as much. In this season of life’s reawakening guide us to a new appreciation of your creation and our part within is. (silence...)

Holy One, we give you thanks for you have made us wondrously, breathing your very breath of life into us and placing us in the midst of communities and families who care for us and who need our caring, who love us and who need our loving. Hear our quiet prayers now loving God as we name before you and hold in our hearts, those known to us and all who especially need your healing, life-renewing touch. (silence...)

Listening, loving God, we give you thanks for in Christ you have walked among us, sharing our joys and sorrows, celebrations and sadness, life and death. Through his presence in our midst we glimpse most nearly the life of abundance that is your dream for us, the shalom, the peace beyond understanding, that is your will for each and all of us. Hear our quiet prayers now, God of peace, as we name before you and hold in our hearts, the places in our life and the places and people of the world who most need that peace. (silence...) Calling God, we give you thanks for the invitation that comes to us, new every morning, to join with you in Christ in the unfolding of your kingdom. Make good use of us, we pray, use our hands, our feet, our voices, use our strengths and resources, use our weaknesses and faults. Open our eyes to recognize the crucified and risen One in the faces we meet day by day. Open our hearts that we might become channels and instruments of Christ’s presence to those we meet. Hear our quiet prayers now, O God, as we name before you and hold in our hearts the realities of our own life and living that need your Spirit’s touch. (silence...) God of grace, these and all our prayers spoken and silent, we bring to you in the strong name of the Risen Christ, whose prayer we now share together... Our Father...

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