April 24, 2022: May God’s words be spoken, may God’s be heard. Amen.
“Χριστός Ανέστη!” “Αληθώς Ανέστη” “Καλό Πάσχα!” “Christ is Risen!” “Truly [he is] risen!” “Happy Easter!” to all our Eastern Orthodox sisters and brothers in Christ, who today are celebrating Easter Sunday. We especially remember those who are celebrating this most Holy day in Ukraine amidst the threat and destruction of the horrific genocide being wrought upon them by Russia. Still, not bombs, nor dictators, can keep Jesus in the tomb – so they will find a way, I have no doubt. This very Sunday these Orthodox Christians will be truly showing the world the transformative power of the resurrection – that no darkness can overcome his light, life is stronger than death, and love will always defeat hate. Yet let us pause for a moment, to hold them all in prayer.
Amen.
And while the Eastern and Western churches celebrate Easter Sunday on different dates, it is also true that for Christians of all stripes – Easter is not just a single day on the calendar. We are in Eastertide, celebrating Easter until the day of Pentecost, this year falling on June 5th.
In truth, we are always in Easter because we are a resurrection people! But, the celebration of the life that grows out of death in the story of the resurrection, in the new flowers and budding trees, in the freshness of the Spring air – is so needed this year perhaps more than ever before in our lifetimes, given all that we, and the rest of the world have been facing these past several months and years. What is also needed is the story of Thomas, which you know by now is my favorite disciple after Mary Magdalene. And we get to hear some about this disciple in today’s gospel, but not all.
First, let’s begin by setting aside the notion that Thomas is an example of bad faith – nothing could be further than the truth. If you have been coming here for awhile, or listening to the sermons on our podcast, then you know all of that by now, but to briefly recap what has been said before: Thomas only had the same doubts that everyone but Mary had, yet through the centuries we have treated him like some sort of bad boy of the gospel crowd. The other disciples said to Thomas that they had seen the Lord! If that sounds familiar, well, Mary had told all of them the same thing. Did they believe her? Nope. Even when Jesus walked through the locked door, did they run forward and say “OMGosh! Mary was right! Geez, Mary, our bad!” Nope. They had to see the scars before they would believe that the one standing before them was the resurrected Christ. Yup – just go back a few verses and you will see that he still had to show them the marks on his body before they would believe it was really him.
Now you may be thinking…but Thomas had to touch the wounds, not just see them! Not so. The text never says that at all. Thomas demanded to touch them, but when Jesus returned and invited him to do it, he immediately answered “My Lord and my God!” The invitation was enough. So, if it is okay for the others, let’s just give poor Thomas a break already. I mean Peter actually denied Jesus three times, but what do we do with him? We give him the keys to the church! The thing is, there is nothing wrong with anything the disciples did – Thomas or the other ones – except for not believing Mary. And belief isn’t what this is all about anyway.
Yet there is something about Thomas that I think we do need to remember and model. Now I know that many think this is Thomas’ big gospel moment, but Thomas, the Twin as his name implies, is featured in two other parts of this fourth gospel, and like this narrative, Thomas makes an impact. In the eleventh chapter of John, Jesus has heard that Lazarus, the one he loved, has died, and Jesus tells his disciples that he needs to go back toward Jerusalem. Now, they had just left there because the temple authorities were trying to stone Jesus to death, so the disciples pushed back – “Jesus, are you kidding? They just tried to kill you!” Jesus tells them that Lazarus is dead, and that he needs to go to him. Thomas says to the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The “him” being Jesus, not Lazarus of course.
The other story about Thomas is often read at funerals. It is from the fourteenth chapter of John, when Jesus is in his very long winded farewell discourse – where he is trying to prepare his followers for what was to come. It begins with that familiar verse “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.” He then tells them that he is going to prepare a place for them, and where he is going, they too will go – that they know the way. Thomas says “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus answers “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
Now, that might not seem like a big deal, but I have no doubt that the others around Jesus were wondering the same thing, but you know – their teacher just said they already knew the answer. Imagine you’re in a class, and the teacher is talking on and on and on, and then says something like that – you might think…ummm, did I fall asleep and miss something? Everyone ELSE knows this? Well…I’ll just ask somebody later. Right? But Thomas has the humility to admit he doesn’t know something, and the courage to raise his hand and say “Hold on there Rabbi…what on earth are you talking about? What way? Where? Google isn’t showing me any map for this, soooo – can you be a bit more precise on the address?”
Thomas never betrayed Jesus, nor did he deny him. Thomas instead had the bravery to be willing to die with him if need be in Jerusalem, the humility to admit he didn’t know what Jesus was talking about, and the fortitude to challenge him to explain something. He also had the courage to demand what others had gotten – a chance to encounter the risen Lord. And when he did, he understood something the others had not yet figured out – that standing before them was not only their Lord, but the incarnate God!
I think Jesus probably loved Thomas very much, because he saw something in this twin – something powerfully courageous in this humble servant – something that this community of believers would need in the days ahead as they began to live out their lives in Christ in a new way and in places far from home. And so, as with the others, he appears to Thomas that he too may know that the relationship he had with Jesus was not over, but just beginning.
And that, my friends, is what this gospel story is all about – relationship – Jesus’ relationship with Thomas, Mary, Cleopas & his wife on the road to Emmaus, the other disciples – all those who experienced the first resurrection appearances. Because the gift of the incarnation, of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension…for that matter, of all of the prophets before and since, has been the reminder to all of creation that God’s relationship of love for us is unending, unconditional, and nothing we can do will ever break it – not even death.
And in a world where we find it sometimes hard to trust that things won’t be different tomorrow, much less months or years down the road, where relationships we counted on or hoped for are broken, lost, or never even take root, this is the good news we need. That no matter how crazy or messed up this world is, no matter what we do or don’t do, no matter where we are – God will be beside us – even when we foolishly decide we would rather trust only in ourselves.
And one of the things about relationship is that it is better when we are fully present and in the same place. We certainly learned that in this time of pandemic – as great as Zoom or livestreaming is, it isn’t the same as being physically present with one another. Relationship grows in the context of presence, and Jesus understood this truth.
That is the point of all the initial resurrection experiences we hear about in the gospels. Jesus went to them – met them where they were in those days prior to his ascension – Mary in her despair, the other disciples in their fear, Thomas in his isolation, Cleo & whatever her name was in their hopelessness on the road to Emmaus – and to each offered himself as they had need: for Mary, his voice, for Thomas, Peter, and the others, the sight of his wounds, and for the two on the road, he shared the word and broke bread with them. Jesus ensured that each one, in their own way, knew that while everything had changed, for them, and for the world, one thing would never change – his relationship of love with each and every one of them.
Jesus knew that if his disciples were to live the life they were called to, that they would need this knowledge of the never-ending story of God’s love. And now we need to know it too. We need to know what the Johannian Community that wrote this fourth gospel was really saying, particularly in these final verses (and this passage is thought to have been the original ending). And it is this: that believing in Jesus isn’t about remembering creedal formulas, knowing everything, or ascending to a life of blind faith. Belief in Jesus is about abiding in him – being in relationship with him.
And now it is our turn.
It is our turn, and the thing is…Jesus is hoping that now, we will meet him where he is – that we will choose to be in relationship with him.
And where is he? Where is Jesus?
Thomas and the others knew in their time, as they spread out around the world creating communities of faith – Thomas as far as India, and some say China too. He was later reported to have been martyred in Madras, now called Chennai. Thomas and the others understood that abiding in Jesus, being in relationship with Lord and God, meant meeting him where he was in their time – in the sacraments, in fellowship, and in the world.
What about us?
How are we to be in relationship with him now?
Well, the same way as Thomas and the others – by abiding with him, loving him, and serving him where he is.
You may be wanting to be like Thomas and say “We don’t know where he is? How can we know where to go?” It’s a good question to ask. And here is the answer: Jesus is always found in places where loving relationship is most needed: in the poor and the stranger, the addicted and the imprisoned, the abused and the marginalized, the sick and the dying – and in each and every one of us. Jesus is found here too, and wherever his followers gather in his name.
That is the good news of Easter my friends!
Jesus is risen – and he is inviting you to see him too – meeting you in the Word, in the sacraments, and in the least, the last, the lonely, and the lost.
For you are Thomas – the one Jesus returns for, the one he calls to his side.
And Jesus hopes you will have the same courage, rooted in humility and the knowledge of his love – for this never-ending relationship story is to be continued – by you – guided by the Holy Spirit!
What will the next chapter hold, for you and for the world?
The possibilities are as endless as God’s love.
Amen.
For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible):
The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox
Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge
April 24, 2022
Easter 2 – Year C
1st Reading – Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 150
2nd Reading – Revelation 1:4-8
Gospel – John 20:19-31
