Beyond 'fear and unless'
Beyond 'fear and unless'
Low Sunday, Easter 2 c, April 7, 2013 (revised, April 3, 2016)
Texts – Acts 5:27-32 (we must obey God rather than men – witnesses to repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins)
Revelation 1:4-8 – Greetings – not alone; but God is the Alpha and the Omega (here and wherever). Be careful about other realities that seek to claim our allegiance as the alpha and the omega.
John 20:19-31 (a) – Peace be with you, breathed on them the Holy Spirit, sends them out as afraid and as imperfect as they are to be sent as he was – to reveal God – then forgiveness and retention of sins (careful here)
Trusting isn't easy. Not now. Not then!
On that first Easter morning Mary Magdalene tells the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" But they don't believe her. We know this because that same night, we find them, behind locked doors. They are paralyzed by their fear. They may have heard Mary's words, "I have seen the Lord". But for whatever reason or reasons they couldn't trust her, they couldn't believe that she had actually their Jesus who had been killed.
Maybe they feared for their own lives. Since Jesus had been executed maybe his followers would be next. Or, maybe they are afraid because if Jesus is alive, who knows what he might ask them to do next? Look where his teaching, his love, his blunt honesty regarding God, himself, and others had gotten him!
Are you ever afraid, so afraid that you just don't seem to be able to trust anyone?
What causes us to figuratively lock our doors – to shut other people out, to keep our minds closely shut, to attempt to close ourselves off from whatever God might be up to right now, in people around us?
Are we afraid of not having enough, of losing our job, of losing a relationship with our kids, grandkids, friends? Are we skeptical, perhaps even fearful of change, of what's happening in society, our Church, our families, our schools?
It's is logical to sometimes be afraid. Sometimes horrible things happen. People get killed crossing the street, even outside a police detachment. Illnesses happen at the most inopportune times. Jobs are lost. Homes are broken into. I can remember one of my parishioners having their home vandalized while they were at church. After we have lived even a little while we realize that people aren't always dependable. Even we don't always keep our promises. People do change. So, whom can we trust? And then, we may simply but surely lock our doors.
This is true for us as people and sometimes also for us as larger groupings – congregations, churches, families, cities, provinces and countries. But such "locking ourselves down" has tragic results. When we are not open to trust we are hesitant to be honest about our values, our hopes and dreams, our fears. And then others can never know us in our complexity, our beauty and wonder. Then, we and others too may well miss out on the full and abundant life God wills for all.
But it doesn't have be that way for us. We don't have to remain behind locked doors. The risen Christ, the One who knows our fear, our brokenness, our abilities to resort to blame when we are afraid, our, can penetrate any and all locked doors- even ours.
I don't know how God can do this. I have seen it again and again. To be sure the risen Lord comes through the locked door to where those early disciples were huddled. He shows them the reality of His wounded body. In doing so He extends to them a peace beyond understanding. Such peace shapes the way they are to treat each other. Whether or not they are in agreement, whether or not they understand each other, they belong together, because they are united to him. And then, whether or not they feel like loving the world, they are called to care about and for the world, just as their Lord has. They are to go and tell others that death, evil, hatred cannot hold us. Jesus shows us the new way. In Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we glimpse God's very heart.
Even as Jesus shows those early disciples his hands and side, He does the most radical thing. Echoing an early creation account, He, this Word of God breathes on them giving them God's own Spirit. Then with that Spirit Jesus sends them into the world to bear His love.
And so they go as they are, imperfect but enlivened with God's own Spirit.
I do not know, nor can I know unless you choose to tell me, what the locked doors of your life are. But I do know this – that the risen Christ, through His spirit can open those doors for us to behold him. We can be freed to walk out of those doors to trust God and begin to work at trusting others.
I have seen this again and again. I have watched an older man who never had his father ever say to him, "I love you", learn when he was past 80 to tell each one of his ten children, "I love you", even, "I am sorry!"
I have watched a Jewish rabbi, who was persecuted by Christians throughout his life, even being accused of being a Christ killer, invite German Lutherans to his synagogue for Krystallenacht. And I have watched another man who literally hated his own pastor for years, once earnestly and genuinely ask for his forgiveness. I have see Christ open locked doors.
We need to know that this crazy, horrible and wonderful world is created and loved by God. But so many people don't experience this love of God. So, we are called to know, experience and share this love of God in Christ Jesus.
Because of Christ there can be new beginnings every day for us and for others. Because of Christ there is forgiveness that is real and makes a difference. Because of Christ we know that everyone has incredible value. No matter how dark things are, there isn't just a light at the end of the tunnel, there is the very light of God with us shining into the darkness.
We no longer need to be paralyzed by fear. For Christ comes wherever we are, breathing us on His Spirit, sending us to share His love. He calls our name. Mary hears Him. We can too. Even now she tells us, "I have seen the Lord". We can trust her word, for she points to the one who has been killed but who lives.
We don't have stay where Thomas once was, saying unless this and unless that. We can be where Thomas is confessing his new experience of Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" We, like Thomas can move out from behind whatever fear is limiting us to trusting the One who is most trustworthy. Yes, we can, by God's grace. Amen.