Easter 2 Yr C
Peace be with you

An excerpt from Fr. Mark’s sermon in 2016 on Thomas Sunday:

“Doubting Thomas?” Why do they call me Doubting Thomas?

They don’t call Peter, “Denying Peter,” do they? And Peter denied Him 3 times . . . when He needed him the most.

They don’t call Paul, “Hold Your Coat While You Stone Him Paul,” do they? Even though that’s exactly what he did when they stoned Stephen. . . .

Introduction

There's a poignant hymn about "Doubting Thomas" (#242 Hymnal 182). The author William Bright (1824-1901) chose to emphasize how great is our God that he would show his blessing on those who have doubts. Bright opines that God extends this grace to those of us who have doubts as well. Frankly, that's one of the reasons I joined the Episcopal Church—I was allowed to question and have doubts. But that's not the only hymn that addresses the concept. Take a look at #673 Hymnal 182 "The first one ever" [ here presented by the author], lyrics by Linda Wilberger Egan (b 1946). The two authors' lives are more than a hundred years apart and the two concepts are not the same. OR maybe they are. Egan repeats "Blessed are they who see" God's presence while Bright asks Jesus to make it presence known.

And there's yet another hymn to think about, "I believe." This poignant piece is inspired these words:

"I believe in the sun even when it's not shining.
I believe in love even when I don't feel it.
I believe in God even when he is silent.
I believe."

I have searched for the origin of these words with only some success. We know the words were found scratched into the wall—perhaps of a cave, perhaps of a hiding place, perhaps of an oven—written by an unknown Jew during the Holocaust. The hauntingly beautiful words remind us that belief is within us, not external. It truly doesn't come from touching Jesus' hands or feet. It really comes from within us, with our ability to "see" Jesus.

Pretend for a minute that you are one of the (not-Thomas) disciples. You've told your friend Thomas that you have seen Jesus alive again, and he tells you he doesn't believe you. I'm sure Thomas' statement must have stung the disciples telling the story. But while we're pretending, what would you have done or said to convince Thomas? If someone relays a story that you find beyond belief, what could they do to convince you of its truth? Part of the reason I love stories about the disciples is because I can see myself in them. I would have fallen asleep while Jesus prayed. I would have denied Jesus. I would have doubted that Jesus had arisen. Do you think that's why Jesus chose them?

Lest you forget, Thomas loudly proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Master. So, for me, he's Confessing (not doubting) Thomas!

 Comments welcome.

John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” . . . he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas . . . was not with them when Jesus came. . . . [and] he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

From sermon4kids.com: “You and I have never seen Jesus with our own eyes. The question is, will we be a doubter, or will we be one of those who Jesus said were blessed because they believe, even though they have not seen?”