Easter 2 2008

The disciples locked themselves in a room because they were afraid. It is unclear how long they have been there or what environmental conditions were like. But fear is visceral. Fear blocks logic. Flight or flight responses quicken the heart rate, increase adrenalin and with it physical strength, and heightens our senses. It is often disproportional to the imagined threat. I don’t think the disciples imagined the danger. It is very likely that conditions in Jerusalem were very tense and that those associated with Jesus were in physical danger.

People react differently to situations of danger but generally we praise individuals who face danger with courage. One of the four virtues named by Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Augustine, and philosophers through the ages is courage (along with prudence, persistence, and justice). One virtue highly praised in literature and philosophy is courage. The willingness to stand for something in the face of danger can be exaggerated or minimized. Courage is best when it is at the midpoint between being coward and being a fool. Many things are frightening – fear of failure – fear of death – fear of loss of employment – wealth – reputation. Having courage requires knowing who you are and having a clear sense of priorities.

Into this situation came Jesus. Suddenly, without warning or permission, Jesus is standing in their midst. The disciples must not have recognized him, because he showed them his wounded hands and side. Like other post-resurrection stories those who encountered him failed to recognize him. Mary Magdalene didn’t know it was Jesus until he spoke her name. The disciples walking to Emmaus did not recognize him until he broke bread with them. Only after several exchanges from the boat to the beach did John and Peter recognize him. Thomas was especially invited to touch him and inspect the wounds. The risen Jesus is not a ghost or some vision, but a real being with some form that can be touched. Whether Thomas actually put his finger in the wounds or not the Gospel writer doesn’t tell us. You may supply that detail as best suits your spiritual needs.

This scene is very different from the way most of us deal with our wounds. When we are sick we want to be alone although we don’t mind a few cards or emails. It is nice to know others care about us but not too close. When I visit folks in the hospital or at home and they are suffering some great health crisis, more often than not, they apologize for their hair not being just so, or the house not being recently cleaned. In large and small ways we like our appearance in tact. We don’t like to cry in public, lose our temper in the wrong place, or not seem to have it all together. We withdraw when we don’t think we are “presentable” and hide at the very time we are in need of incarnational presence.

Over and over again I have told you that the biggest gift we can give one another is just showing up. We might not get the words just right. We often don’t look our best. Sometimes we are tired and given our hectic pace of life, always can find some excuse for staying away. Jesus doesn’t give them the option. Knowing that Thomas needs to see the evidence in order to believe, Jesus is reaching out in the only way that will cancel Thomas’ doubts.

Jesus is setting an example for us and at the same time inviting us into greater intimacy with him. He meets our fear and disbelief with loving acceptance. The questions are ok. The fear is natural. You are so important to me that I am meeting you behind these locked doors, showing you what you need to see, so that you know how much I love you.

Take note that Thomas nor the other disciples had done a single thing to deserve this visit. They had the only evidence we have: the word of the other disciples who had encountered the risen Christ. They needed more and Jesus met that need. What does that mean for us?

It means that Jesus always meets us where we are. Fearful or courageous, sure or doubtful, faithful or neglectful, wherever we are, that is the place where Jesus comes to us. It is an incarnational presence. The body is real enough to eat and yet other enough to go through locked doors. The resurrected body of Jesus is not the same configuration of carbon atoms that Jesus bore on the cross, but is changed for eternity. It is however recognized by his friends, through the sound of his voice, the way he breaks bread, or the particular wounds he bears.

That means we can anticipate seeing and knowing those we love but see no longer. Our friends, family, spouses, partners, children who are already in the eternal presence of God’s embrace will be able to see us coming and meet us in welcome. That is very good news to me because I am getting to an age where I know as many on the other side as on this side of eternities divide.

There is a lot of consistency between the coming of the child Jesus which John’s Gospel describes as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and his resurrection appearances to assure us that the resurrection is real, the eternal love of God is offered to each one of us, in this life and in the next. We have a future, and it is not just how long we can extract time from hourglass of earthly existence. It is much larger, much longer, and much better.

If we believed this we would have reason to face every situation with confidence, courage, and faith. There would be nothing that could lock us up in hiding or keep us from doing everything in our power to advance the work of God’s kingdom here and now. I believe that it was the seeing, touching, experiencing the risen Lord that turned Peter from the braggart to preacher, that made Thomas the great missionary of the Gospel to India, and gave birth to the Christian Church.

We are still unsure about many things. Our rapid acceleration of denominations bear testimony to our disbelief much more than to our faith. If we knew in the core of our being whose we are and what they really means, we could search for and find common ground among Christians of every culture. The hallmark of every Christian ought to be nothing more than the “faith of Christ”. Yes, that is right, not only that we believe in Christ but that we are living in Christ. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. It is the ability to give up being in control and being a part of something bigger and better. It is being in the body of Christ, in the company of the saints, and bearers of good news.

Jesus is still coming to meet us: see my hands and my feet. Don’t look down or away, see, know, and remember that God chose to come among us not as some power from above, but in the form of human flesh – to feel our hunger, our pain, even death. Flesh that embodies love: the abundant love of God that continues to quell our fears, calm our nerves, heal our weakness, and nourish our faith.

The truth is looking at God in the form of the risen Christ is not taking God as our object of knowledge. No, God has us as the subject of our existence. Looking at God we feel we cannot escape even by making Him the object of skeptical argument or irresistible emotion. In our uncertainty there is only one fixed point of certainty. We rarely comprehend it – but we are comprehended. We may fully understand but we are fully understood. We confess the faith of Christ…in whom we live and move and have our being. Wherever you are, take a minute and feel the presence of Christ – right here – right now – just for you. In the bread and in the wine – your are being met just where you are – whatever your fears – the risen Christ is here for you.