Sermon - 2nd Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-31  

Sent – Be Not Faithless

 

I don’t think that this Gospel lesson is about Thomas.  I think it is about something else.  Our Tuesday evening bible study looks ahead at the readings for the coming Sunday.  I told them this week that I thought there was something more pertinent in these verses than a discussion about Thomas and his request to see what the other disciples had been allowed to see – without asking.  They weren’t convinced. 

So I tried again, on Wednesday, during the Closing Eucharist, to take some of the focus off Thomas by pointing out that it is only in recent issues of the Bible that we get the reference to him as “doubting.”  Here is where I need the help of Pastor Heyer, or Pastor Slice, or Pastor Emeritus Copenhaver.  Do either of you remember how that verb in verse 27 was translated in the good ole King James Version?  It wasn’t “doubt” that Jesus discouraged; it was “faithlessness.”  In the King James, Jesus tells Thomas “Be not faithless.”   “Faithless” could be taken as “doubt,” but it can imply a whole host of other things as well.  It is in the modern era, when discoveries of ancient geological events and/or significant biological alterations among the earth’s inhabitants that the opposite of “faith” became “doubt.”  In the stories of scripture, that which is on the opposite poll of faith would be fear.  Jesus tells his disciples, “Peace be with you.”  How many times does the Easter story contain the admonition, “Do not fear”?

Even with all that, I am still not sure I was sufficiently convincing.

So I am going to try again this morning, with you.  Look again at the reading.  See how the reading begins and ends.  Sure, there is that compelling story in the middle.  But doesn’t the structure of all that we are given to read nudge us in a direction somewhat broader than how one of the followers of Jesus takes action on what it is that Jesus returns to do?

 Jesus comes and stands among them.  He “breathes” on them.  But not with just any breath; he breathes on them and tells them to “receive.”  He breathes on them and tells them to “receive the Holy Spirit.”  He had promises them earlier (the reference is John 14:16 if you want to look it up in your bible), Jesus had promised them earlier that he would send the Spirit.  In John 14 he refers to the Spirit’s role.  He tells them, “I will give you another Advocate.”  “Advocate” – sometimes translated “Helper.”  Jesus breathes on them and tells them that Advocate has arrived, that Helper is come, the Holy Spirit has entered them as assuredly as the breath he has exhaled has entered their very own lungs. 

And receive they did.

If you want to see the evidence of that breath, look at the first lesson – the reading from Acts 2.  This sermon, of Peter’s, is preached in direct response to that breath – to having received the Holy Spirit.  Remember that Luke has two books in our Bibles – Luke and Acts.  So the exchange in which the Holy Spirit comes is told in Luke’s second book – Acts. 

Acts, chapter 2, will be our prime text in 43 days, when we observe Pentecost.  In that retelling of the story, the Hebrew word which can mean breath, or wind, or spirit is spoken of as a “wind;”  Acts 2:2 says they were together, in one place and “suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind.”  This wind, this breath, this spirit sweeps into the place where the disciples are gathered and “divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.” 

In Acts, there is no retelling of Thomas being absent.  In Acts, at the giving of the Holy Spirit, the disciples rush out into the street where there are devout Jews from every nation under heaven, and these disciples begin to speak, and all could hear as if in their own language.

As a result of this rushing wind, this breath - the disciples are empowered and emboldened and they begin right away to make a difference.   And the significance of that difference is real and palatable.  Jesus tells them it will be their task to forgive sins; their role to speak of sin bound so tightly to us that it is forever retained. 

Jesus comes to the disciples and he breathes on them, he tells them to receive the Holy Spirit – and then he tells them that it will be up to them and to the witness they give if any additional persons will “come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.” 

The story of Thomas is an acknowledgement (but only an acknowledge-ment) that it can be very tough for us once we realize the enormity of the task which Jesus has entrusted to us.

This is what I believe today’s reading is about.  It is about the giving of the Holy Spirit; it is about having confidence in the breath which has entered us; it is about realizing that an empty tomb only has meaning when those for whom it means something open their mouths and use the breath that is inside them to proclaim “Chris is Risen!  Christ is Risen Indeed!  Halleluiah!”

I promised Russell that if I did spend this morning trying to convince everyone that this text is about being sent into the world, that I would give some suggests as to what one is to “do” once we are sent. 

The first, and most basic answer involves making sure that we realize we have “received” all we need for this undertaking.  Shift your focus off Thomas in this story and see (maybe for the first time) the confidence of the other ten disciples.  They confidently tell Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.”  That breath, that wind, that Spirit which had entered them emboldened them to make the only affirmation that needs to be made. 

In some communities of faith, there are additional markers associated with having received the Holy Spirit.  But those markers are an addition of later practitioners.  Again, in Acts, the baptism in Jesus’ name is the only step needed for the Spirit-fed life to take root.

Breathe in.  There.  You have it.  “Be not faithless.” 

Leave this place with courage. Do not be afraid.  There are fear-producing realities out there.  Some of them rode our shoulders into this assembly hall.  Some of them are pretty darn powerful.  But the stone has been rolled away and that angel is sitting on top of it and the admonition has been issued that while there are many hurts and pains and disappointments in our future we do not have to allow those to dominate our lives.  It is more than the power of positive thinking; it is an acknowledgement that there is something greater than the forces which oppose and oppress us and that that something greater has entered our lives and transformed the way in which we will live.  We will not live in fear. 

Jesus sends his followers out, equipped with the Holy Spirit, and he empowers them to set free those who are held in bondage.  ‘When you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.’ 

I am sure that part of the reason the “sending” aspects of this text stood out to me has to do with the other activities associated with this day.  We are sending forth another group of students.  My colleague at Penn State responded to my Facebook post about “Farewell and Godspeed,” by saying “I sometimes wonder if it is doing harm to our psyches to say good-bye year after year after year.” 

It may.  But it isn’t only us.  It is every Christian community which gathers.  Every Sunday we send everyone forth.   The aim of the Christian Church isn’t to get you inside these doors; the aim is to strengthen you for what you will do the remaining 167 hours of your week.

What are you to do – as you are sent into the world?  Realize that you have been given all you need for the journey.  Jesus has breathed on you.  

What are you to do – as you are sent into the world?  Go forth – and do not be afraid.

Amen.

 

Today's offering is from one of the students involved in LCM who asked that they not be individually identified:

 

 

 

A few months ago while sitting in Sunday school, I thought to myself, our church would never do that.
 

We were discussing  the recent news of a new pastor showing up to his church dress as a homeless person, with rags for cloths, ruffled hair, and the stench that indicated the lack of a shower. We all thought that the congregation’s reactions to the homeless man were utterly and completely wrong. Members of the congregation did not greet him, nor did they offer a seat when the man was in need of a seat. 

And I just kept thinking through the weeks that, “Our church would never do that.”

Well this past Sunday, possibly the biggest day of church turnout where all pews will be completely packed listening to the Good News of Christ’s resurrection; A man walks into the sanctuary looking for a place to sit, it is obvious this man is suffering from some illness as he is finally finds an open seat. 

As I see this happen, I notice the only other guy sitting in the pew is frantically trying to persuade the merely different guy from sitting down. Finally the man with special needs sits down in the pew, in protest the other guy slides to the opposite end of the pew. 

While I thought this was horrible to do, I kept thinking to myself that maybe, just maybe, he was telling him to sit there to reserve the spot. Giving him the benefit of doubt. I am calming down as the rest of the family pours into the church and kicks out the special needs guy, to leave him wandering the church for a place to sit. He soon found another pew that made room for him during the service.

What I realized this Sunday, is that, our church would do that. Which means I could that. It might not be as profound as having a homeless man wander around the church that turns out to be your new pastor, but it does mean all churches are just as imperfect as the members of the congregation. So I challenge you to accept this, and strive to be the person that goes out of their way to talk to the homeless person that walks into church.

Devotion - Thursday, April 24

As you have been reading your textbooks and preparing for exams, I have been reading a book about the status of religious engagement in the university setting.  The Book is titled No Longer Invisible: Religion in University Education.

Near the end, there is a discussion of what it is that actually takes place in the classroom.  The old model would tell us that the professor dispassionately presents information, which the students absorb.  "Information" is the content of the course being taught.  

But try as she might, the professor cannot completely and totally shield her own convictions and preferences.  These seep into the exchanges which occur during those three hours that you and she interact.  By the end of the term, "Formation" has come into to the mix.  The content of the course (we would all hope) has an impact on the student.

We all need to be prepared to reflect upon the formation associated with the information and to realize that the latter can never be delivered without the former coming along for the ride.

You speak with me often about these things.  You reveal a disinterest in "useless bits of information."  But your eyes light up when you discover the classes in which your view of the world is strengthened, or even undermined, or called upon to change, or even complicated in some way.  What you learn is to make a difference in your life.

And it does.  And it will.

When you come to LCM we are real clear about the "difference" we hope to make.  It is a challenge for your professors to be as clear about such matters.  But know that it happens.  AND realize that they are as committed to helping you grow and develop and find your mark in the world.  They just aren't as free to speak of such things.  Your gift to them could be to acknowledge how they have not only shared information but aided your formation.  Think of "How", and tell them.  You could approach them by saying, "I have sat in your class all term, and I am grateful.  Now that that is over, might you be willing to share with me what it is about this subject that makes it so important in your life?"

Something more happens to you during these four years than getting a degree.  You are molded and formed and guided.  Be aware of all the forces doing that and be reflective on the impact each is having.

Good luck with exams.  God will be with you.

Devotion - Wednesday, April 23

The Gospels each tell their own account of what happened after Jesus' resurrection.  

As we learned in last night's bible study, in John the disciples return to the upper room.  They lock themselves inside out of fear.  In that closed up space, Jesus comes to them.

This morning I was reading from Matthew.  Here, after hearing the testimony of the two Mary's, the disciples go to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. There, Jesus meets them.

Differing endings allow us to reflect on the differing responses we have to the events of Easter.  At times we go forth with courage to the places where Jesus has sent us.  At other times we allow our fear to cause us to turn in on ourselves.

Rather than see these as two different stories, it may be helpful to see them as two views of the same story.  Both are responses we have to the Easter events.

Each day - each moment - we can fluctuate between being too overwhelmed to speak and being the beacon of light upon the mountain top.  Each day - each moment - we can live out John's recounting or we can be the disciples Matthew knows us to be.

What kind of day will you live?  Today?

Devotion - Tuesday, April 22

Many of the questions asked of me begins with, "Where in the Bible does it say......"

It is tough to remember the chapter and verse for every one of the references repeated in conversations and discussions.  It is also true that many references are not to the Bible, but to conventional wisdom, attempting to boost one's assertion by claiming it is in the Bible.  (Popular in my youth was the reference in a song sung by Willie Nelson to Jesus' turning the stones into loaves.  It worked well for his socially conscience lyrics; but it was a misquote of scripture.)

My devotional guide had me read what are most commonly referred to as the "additional verses of Mark."  Realizing that the oldest versions of Mark's Gospel end at verse 8, verses included in later scrolls are relegated to footnotes in the RSV and NRSV translations.  But they are given full weight and attention in other translations.

It is these verses that it is noted that Jesus' followers are to go into the world and spread the Good News.  NOTHING will be able to stop them or harm them.  It is here that the promise is made "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents...."

This is the place in the Bible where it says this.  It is a collection of verses you are highly unlikely to hear read on a Sunday morning in one of our ELCA congregations.  But when our bothers and sisters of an evangelical ilk speak of such signs as proof of the Spirit's presence they are not misquoting nor are they restating conventional wisdom.  If one claims to believe that which is written 10 verses earlier (the tomb is empty) then why would you not believe what is stated here?

Devotion - Monday, April 21

Christ has risen!  Christ has risen indeed!

Wherever you gathered to celebrate the breaking of the bond of death, I pray it was a powerful experience of what our hymn of the day referred to as "the Spirit's fission (which) shakes the church of God."  The celebrations of which I was a part took on that flavor and flair; each brought home the assurance that God's Good News would lift us above every adversity.

For me, there were three morning gatherings.  Very public, well attended.  

In the afternoon, there were two more.  Small, almost private.  Of those afternoon gatherings one was in the room of a memory loss patient; the other in the home of one battling with cancer and the effects of cancer treatment.

In the public gatherings, we repeated the great choruses of the faith.  We allowed the strength of our convictions to be matched with the volume of our shared voices.

The afternoon gatherings depended upon the strength of the scriptural text, the weight these words carry in our lives.  

I hope that wherever you gathered there was plenty of both.  More precisely, I pray that on this Easter Monday, you still have the great verses of hymns ringing in your ears as well as a depth of conviction rooted in your heart.

Christ has risen!  Christ has risen indeed!

Devotion - Good Friday

At our Tuesday night bible study we had the discussion of which day defines Christianity:  Is it Easter morning?  Or Good Friday?

"Easter" is the title that we use to speak of the core Christian affirmation.  It can be a reference to the actual Sunday morning events.  But it can also refer to the whole chain of events.  When we say "We are Easter people," it means that we are those who speak of life and meaning and purpose and faith in relation to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

And for many Easter morning is the pivotal event - Jesus is raised, thus making resurrection a promise for each of us.

For others, Good Friday speaks to their experience.  Jesus pays the price for our sins.  Jesus' death means that death has lost its grip.

There was on Tuesday a disagreement as to which day defines Christianity.  This differing of perspectives is not always between differing individuals.  It will also emerge at differing times in the life of any one individual.  There will be times in our lives when one image speaks more powerfully than the other.

This morning what speaks to me is Jesus' faithfulness to God's Word and God's vision.  Jesus spoke of a God who does not become contained and neatly packaged by any of the forces which would like to control Him.  "Religious authorities," nor "political kingpins" get to tell God's chosen one the meaning of life or the purpose for living.  Jesus told them "No!"  And in response they murdered him.  But they did not defeat him.  And they did not remove from the face of the earth God's insistence that our purpose in life is to care for others, to speak of God's acceptance of others, and to make life decisions based on what is best for the common good.

This is what Jesus said.  The powers of this world saw the danger in such a message and had him put to death.  God confirms that this is the way by restoring life to the One who carried this message in his very flesh.

While not meaning to turn this whole devotion into a promotion - I would close by saying that your are unlikely to be able to participate in the debate unless you experience today's liturgy and the one that will be offered some 40 hours later.  Good Friday worship is at 7:00 pm;  Easter celebration at 11:00 (there is also a sunrise service, and an 8:30 liturgy).