Wounded Hope, Pregnant Breathing

Easter 2a, May 1, 2011 - John 20:19-31 with I Peter 1:3-9 and Acts 2:14a, 22- 33 in the b.g.

I invite you to take a few moments right now to be honest with yourself. You will need to detach yourself from all the other stuff that tempts us to escape from any moment – distractions like our minds whirring, the beautiful baby Ariel right here at the front, thoughts of what happened or didn't happen last night – or even what may occur when you leave this place. I am inviting you to be present, here and now – to listen to yourself, to listen for God. With God's help you can do it – we can do it. And no that's not a campaign promise.

 

I want to ask you a 3 pronged question:  What do you long for? Whom do you absolutely trust? What is your hope?  I ask you these questions because they are important. Out of these questions is revealed what we understand to be the purpose of our lives, our reason for being.

 

I suspect that those of us who know a bit of the Biblical story see the early disciples as heroes of the faith. I mean many if not all of those early disciples, save Judas, eventually end up giving their lives to proclaim the truth of their conviction, the reality of their experience, that Jesus is risen from the dead. Underneath that conviction is the belief that God can and does overcome death and evil, hatred and apathy – all the forces of empire that conspire to suck the life out of so many while elevating only a few.

 

In some ways the early disciples end up being heroes of faith. They eventually establish priorities while being  pulled along by a tidal wave of what really matters. Everything else is of secondary importance to their seemingly simple confession:  Jesus is Lord.

 

But as we watch and listen to today's Gospel reading we have to know that it wasn't always that way – not even after Jesus' resurrection. Did you notice where the disciples are on the evening of the first day of the week, that very first day of resurrection? That's correct – they are behind locked doors for fear of those who had opposed Jesus and initiated his death. The disciples are afraid. They are convinced that they have nothing to offer anyone. They are more concerned about their own lives than anyone else's including Jesus. Oh, yes they had already heard about Jesus' resurrection – but somehow that reality hadn't take root in their minds and beings. They were so afraid.

 

But Jesus comes to them, through the locked door.  He gives them shalom, that is peace. And he commissions them, sending them out into their world with the news that He is no longer dead, but alive. Death could not hold him. Now death cannot hold them.  He shows them his wounds. Then he does something amazing: he breathes on them giving them the Holy Spirit, his spirit. He tells them that there is a purpose for this. They can forgive sins – letting go of what people have done to hurt others, to hurt themselves, to deny the power and love of God. You would have thought that this would have been enough. But  it isn't. They remain hesitant impeded by all kinds of walls, doors and locks separating them from others. 

 

We know this because our text fast forwards one week. There they are again in the house. But now they are all present including Thomas who had been absent a week ago. They had mentioned to Thomas that they had seen the Lord, but he wasn't  convinced. Maybe it's because they hadn't been trustworthy before . Or maybe it was because their lives weren't showing any difference. Or maybe Thomas was a pure sceptic.  Prove it baby. Whatever the case the risen Jesus again appears to them now showing Thomas his wounds. He even invites Thomas to touch those wounds, to cease unbelieving, to move towards trusting Jesus.  Somehow Thomas does. Notice his statement of faith, "my Lord and my God." The text doesn't tell us that Thomas actually ever touches Jesus' wounds. But the text does tell us that Thomas is moved to trust. And the Christian church in India now claims Thomas as its first missionary.

 

So, do you remember how I began our conversation today? I asked you a 3 pronged question: What do you long for? Whom do you absolutely trust? Where is your hope?

 

At times today's church is seriously despairing. Our "numbers" are down, way down. Churches that once were referred to as "mainline" churches are now at best sideline churches. In fact churches here on the West Coast are viewed irrelevant by a very significant portion of the population.  Although disappointed I am not surprised. So many Christians, myself far too often included, are like those early disciples. We lock ourselves away from the rest of the world and gather behind closed, even locked doors. Oh, we say we are welcoming claiming to be in mission. Sometimes we even try hard.  But often we are overcome by fear, fear of our shrinking bank accounts, of declining numbers, of placing any real expectations upon those who show up on some Sundays: in terms of a discipline in following Jesus, like praying, studying, fasting, tithing. Then we end up offering only what some service clubs offer – a helping hand, education about ongoing issues in the world. Not that this isn't important. It is. But thanks be to God there are many service clubs.

 

However even now, especially now there is good news. The risen Jesus refuses to leave those earliest disciples behind their locked doors despite their fear and scepticism. He comes through those doors. He comes bringing the reality of peace. This is not an escape from the world but the sense of his abiding presence as He commands them to live in the world. So it is that when He comes He breathes on them, gifting them with His Spirit. And only then are they moved to get up off their duffs, to face their fear and to venture out into the wounded world. They do this not by their own power or only with their "own" resources, but enlivened by the Spirit to hear, to see and to care for others who are wounded, broken, empty just like them.

 

So what are you longing for? Whom do you absolutely trust? What is your hope, beyond any wish or dream? I want you to know dear people that this same God who creates and is creating the universe,  also has become human in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus lived, loving and caring for all whom he met. Jesus lived honestly confronting the powers that be, which claim to be god – powers such as greed and military might, powers like death and fear. Jesus confronts these powers by giving himself over to them. He suffers greatly. He dies! To be sure he dies. But because of him we are not alone in our suffering or death.

 

But oh dear people, also know this: this Jesus whom we somehow put to death, also rises. He is alive!  He wills to come through all the doors and walls of our fears, wherever we are caught or bound. He comes bringing us peace. This is a peace that refuses to cover our heads with blankets or bury our heads in the sand. This a peace that sends us with real hope and joy to share his love, his story, his forgiveness in our world. This is a hope transcending but involving sight, understanding and logic. But his is a hope that is real steadfastly outlasting any and all other temporary "victories" – which in a year or two pale in comparison or worse yet completely fade away.

 

So, oh dear people, let us long for, let us trust, let us be open to the presence of God in the breath of God's Spirit as being conveyed to us through the life, death and the resurrection of Jesus.

 

For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Amen.