InJohn’s gospel, Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus and reported it to the disciples,but they all were skeptical followers who were cowering behind locked doors. One skepticwho is the focal point of today’s story was Thomas, “Doubting Thomas” as he hasbeen wrongly dubbed. From our Sunday schoolclasses, we were taught, do not be like Thomas because of his suspicion andwariness, because he didn’t have a faith as solid as a rock, and thus, we grewup believing that Thomas was a bad guy.
Wecan be pretty hard on these early followers, because we stand on the other sideof the story, post-resurrection, post-Pentecost, and post- Evangelism. We can very easily find ourselves as hearersof this story, acting like Monday morning quarterbacks when we think, “Theywere just a bunch of cowards, they should have done this or said that. You know, we can fill in the right plays, andthe right execution.” It is easy to bespectators on the sidelines and pass judgment.
Some of us might believe, “If I had been there, I would have been out in the streetproclaiming, ‘Alleluia, Christ is risen!’” Really? Would we? If we are honest with ourselves, we would havebeen in that safe, protected, secure room with the other disciples being justas frightened and dismayed as the rest of them. Things haven’t changed muchover the last 2000 years. There arestill Christians who proclaim the faith, yet they live in perpetual fear ofliving the resurrected life.
Fear is an emotion associated with doubt, skepticism,and suspicion. Fear is the antithesis of trust or belief. Jesussaid, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who havenot seen and yet have come to believe." We probably hear Jesus' words as cutting and terse admonishments forThomas. We may even hear this statementas a chastisement for folks whose faith journeys include moments of doubt. I believe this is less a reprimand fordoubting, and more of an encouragement to trust in Christ, even when you do nothave visible evidence to support the trust you think you have. Thomasgets a bum rap my friends. Doubt is notsin! Uncertainty and skepticism are anatural part of trusting in anything. Iwill say this publically, “Doubt as Christians is OK!” There is a caveat to that though. We run into problems when doubt is present and yet, we become paralyzed by fear and thus, we become unable to recognize the great presence of the Spirit in our lives.
MaryMagdalene proclaimed the resurrection to the apostles and yet, nothinginitially changed in this little community. The doors remained locked, andthen it happened, Jesus burst into the room. “Peace be with you!” In a flash,they had encountered the Risen Lord right there in their very midst and fromthat point forward, everything changed. Iam sure that this was not the last time there was doubt and uncertainty amongJesus’ early followers. Just read someof the Apostle Paul’s letters and you will from time to time, hear a littleweariness and doubt, but he remained faithful. We do not need to dismiss doubt as faithlessness but rather; we should embraceit and let its presence become for us awareness, that we need intimateencounters with Christ, in order to walk the Resurrected Life.
Thomaswanted more than just an assurance; he wanted an intimate encounter with Jesusso that he could trust. I read in arecent article, these words, “Thepersonal encounter (of Thomas and thedisciples in that room) makes Jesus' resurrection real to this follower(s). In fact, Thomas's answer, "My Lord and myGod!" is the high point of John's Gospel. When Thomas gets it, he getsit.” Hunter,Amy B. "The Show-Me Disciple." Christian Century 119.6 (2002): 17-22.ATLASerials, Religion Collection. Web. 14 Apr. 2012 ThisChristian journey is about trust, which means a renewal comes from thosemoments when we experience an intimate encounter with Jesus. Faith is not merely an assent to a particularfact alone; it is experiencing Christ every day. We need to encounter the Risen Lord in orderthat our faith might be renewed and strengthened.
Inone of the Eucharistic Prayers, we ask God, “deliver us from the presumption ofcoming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only,and not for renewal.” (BCP p. 372Eucharistic Prayer C). Each week we comeboldly before the throne of grace and in the Eucharistic meal, bread and wine becomeBody and Blood, and through this sacrament, we encounter the Risen Lord. Our trust is renewed. The Church was birthed becauseof this trust, lives over the centuries changed because of this trust, and wesit here today as hearers of the Gospel because of this trust. Is that enough though? Is it sufficient to sit here gathered and say; “He is Risen?” Are we mere hearers and not doers of theword?
Whatare we afraid of in this community? Dowe find ourselves cowering behind closed doors distrusting, fearful, wary, and skeptical? Or are we rather, bold, confident in Christ,and are we ready to spread the Good News. What good is the resurrection and the GoodNews of Christ, if we are unchanged by it, if we choose to hide it, if we failto share it, and if by our very lives, others are unable to see the Risen Lord. If we believe in, no, if we trust thatJesus is Lord, then we should live transformed by the power of theresurrection. Trusting in Christ means we live as if joy, reconciliation,forgiveness, mercy, grace, and mutual love mean something every moment, everyday, every week.
There are some practical ways to live the resurrectedlife and by doing so, encounter Christ. Hereare just few: (1) Pray daily, (2) growin Christ, (3) put your spiritual gifts to work in the Kingdom, and (3) sharethe Good News. Pray daily, not merely for your own needs, but for theneeds of each other and the needs of the world. We need to carry in our hearts the burdens of our sisters and brothersboth here, and beyond these walls. Through intercessory prayer, our hearts aresoftened for each other, and we are drawn to the heart of God who loves us andcares for us in trouble and in celebration. You will be amazed how fear will subside andtrust will grow through prayer.
Commit to growing in your walk with Christ. We need to stretch our minds through the studyof scripture, and we need to gather with other Christians beyond Sunday morningto share our journeys of faith. Scripturestudy may seem daunting, but it can be as easy as taking a journey through thePsalms. Consider reading one chapter aday and the habit will feed your soul. Inaddition, growth in the faith does not happen in isolation. We need the faith of our sisters and brothersto strengthen our faith. I encourage youto join a small group. If there is notone here already that interests you, come see me and we will start anotherone. Gather with other Christians, immerseyourself in scripture and you will be amazed how fear will subside and trustwill grow through connections with others.
Searchyour heart for your God-given Spiritual Gifts and put them to work in God’sKingdom. Do you sing? Do you play an instrument? Can you teach? Are you an organizer? Do you have great leadership skills? Have you ever wanted to serve at the Lord’sTable on Sunday mornings? Whether you serve the community in some way on Sunday,or whether you serve in some way through Outreach and Mission, each of us hasbeen gifted by the Holy Spirit at baptism to serve. If you don’t know what your gifts are, comesee me and I will help you unpack your gifts. Serve in the Kingdom and you will be amazed how fear will subside andtrust will grow as you serve.
Sharethe Good News. Do not, I repeat do not,go buy a bullhorn and stand on 776 and shout Jesus Saves. That is not a good evangelism method. What you can do is live the faith everyday. Love deeper, speak sweeter, andgive the forgiveness you may have been denying. In each encounter you have with others, whether in the store, at thegolf course, or out at dinner ask yourself this question, “Is this encounterthe only one today by which, this person may see the face of Christ?” Then let your actions speak the Gospel tothem. Share the Good News and you willbe amazed how fear will subside and trust will grow.
Itis time for us to open the lock of fear, to throw open the doors of skepticismand make a commitment to the trust which we all proclaim. Pray, grow, serve, and share … this is how wecan encounter the Risen Lord each and every day. This is how we have an intimate encounterwith Christ. Our faith will be strengthened,our souls will be renewed, and the Gospel will be shared. You see, we really have nothing to fear,unless we allow the Good News to be silent because of our fear, our indifference,or our lack of commitment. As the earlydisciples wrestled with trust and doubt, so must we wrestle for, “Whatgood is the resurrection and the Good News of Christ, if we are unchanged byit, if we choose to hide it, if we fail to share it, and if by our very lives,others are unable to see the Risen Lord?”
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