Homily for Easter 2 (B) April 7, 2024
Given by Connie Aurand
Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
These words we say every Sunday during the season of Easter. What I ask myself and I will ask you to ponder, do you believe these words? And more importantly, do you share the message of the Good News and act on those words? If I am honest, there are times when I doubt or question whether I am secure enough, equipped enough to share Christ’ message with another. If I was to meet Jesus on the road or sidewalk of my community, would I question and believe this is my Jesus who I profess to love and whose teachings I believe in? Or would I say nothing, and walk away. Would I be able to greet Christ without hesitation and with the words he uttered to his disciples, “Peace be with you”?
This Sunday is referred to in many sermons and religious writings as the Thomas’ Sunday of the Gospel or the Story of Doubting Thomas. In preparing for this service, I was reminded with the words said and written by learned people of the church, that Thomas was not with the others on Easter morning. I then asked myself, where was Thomas? I submit to you that it is very possible that Thomas was so overcome with the pain and loss of his beloved teacher and friend, Jesus, that he left his community for a time to grieve alone. I personally do not believe he ran away from his community of brothers and sisters in fear of the Romans, but that he was overcome with his personal grief and pain of this momentous loss, and thus missed out on this great revelation in our shared story. Although Thomas missed out on that living experience of receiving “Peace” from his beloved teacher and friend the first time, he nevertheless returned to his community so that the disciples could grieve together, to only hear the shared experiences of his fellow disciples and their telling of having Jesus in the flesh with them. Their commentary of experiences was not enough to convince Thomas who wanted to believe – he was ready and needed to believe. Thomas I believe was hurt and felt left out and alone not having been given the same opportunity as his brothers to see Christ once more. After all, his fellow disciples had been first hand witnesses to Jesus’ appearance. They had received the “Peace” and his spirit and had been sent by Christ to continue his work in the world. Thomas had not. These disciples had an opportunity to begin that work sharing the “good news” with their brother, Thomas on his return. However, it did not happen the way in which they thought Thomas would react. Thomas’ community simply failed to convince Thomas. I would suggest these disciples are us. As the Rev. James Liggett, a retired Episcopal priest from Texas shared in one of his sermons on Thomas, it feels better to call Thomas “doubting” than to call the disciples, or ourselves—unconvincing”. A week later, this community with Thomas would be given another opportunity to observe, learn and be there for one another, to watch Jesus once again appear saying “Peace be with you.” Although, Thomas seemed to question Christ living presence, his loving teacher and friend reassured Thomas he needn’t be afraid to question, but believe what Jesus had shared. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Well, the Good News for us, including Thomas, the band of disciples and for us, the Church—Christ is risen and he comes to all of us even as we huddle in fear behind closed or locked doors. We are invited over and over to try again—to share the good news, because we are never alone. Jesus speaks for us, with us and to his world through the bread and wine and his words of forgiveness and peace. We share the words of the living Christ every time we gather—“May the peace of the Lord be with You and we respond, and also with you.” In those brief moments, we are sharing the living Christ’ message of “Peace” in our little part of the world with one another. We need not be afraid to fail to bring the good news to others or remain rooted in a state of despair, because like Thomas and his fellow disciples, we are given another invitation to “try again” even when it may be difficult or appear to be risky. Thomas must have known this because he did not remain away from the disciples alone, he wanted to be with his beloved community. He came back maybe questioning his place in the community or what was to come, but on this second visit, he did receive from Christ the message of Peace—and the commission “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” The important message for me and I share with you today is “show up, remain open to learning, sharing, and loving one another, we are being called together—in community- to struggle on—sharing the good news, because whether we try and fail, or attempt to keep the door closed, Christ is in our midst! He will show up for us and our Jesus will continue to be found among us. Will we be there to greet Christ and one another and offer the words Christ shared with Thomas and the disciples, “Peace be with You”.
Let us together proclaim mightily, Alleluia Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia! Amen.