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| Easter Sunday Christ Church Covington March 31, 2002 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. This past week it has been very easy for many of us to believe in God. Mild days and cool nights, blooming flowers and fresh spring foliage – who could deny in such a context that God is and God loves us. Even the rain last Sunday, while it was definitely wet, was not threatening or ominous like some storms are. It seemed to be just what the Earth needed, even if it wasn’t exactly what the kids’ Easter shoes needed. Yes, it’s been easy lately to recognize God’s love showering down on us. Yet it isn’t always like this, is it? Events both personal and global can obscure God’s presence from us, can cause us to wonder whether God loves us, if indeed He exists at all. Even when spring is springing, adversity can make the world seem like a besieging army, intent on our downfall. I’m reminded that even while nature has been putting on her best lately, taxes are due also, and certainly that can take anyone’s mind off of God’s presence among us. But seriously, sometimes it’s difficult not to feel like God has forsaken us personally, and some of us are even tempted to do likewise: to forsake the God whom we feel has forsaken us, to suspend our belief, to stop living out our faith. It’s hard to love God and to minister to those around us when we are feeling vulnerable and insecure and isolated. Perhaps that is how Thomas felt when he declared that he would never believe unless he himself could verify that Jesus was risen and alive. Surely we can relate to this. Jesus’ passion and death would have been devastating to Thomas and the other disciples. The report of his presence among the other disciples would likely have seemed bizarre(to say the least) because either they were all playing a cruel joke on him, or Jesus decided to show up when Thomas, and only Thomas, wasn’t around. If you were in Thomas’ shoes, which of those alternatives would you opt for? Do you think, under the circumstance, that Thomas felt vulnerable, insecure, or isolated? Do you think that belief in the risen Lord would be difficult in that case? Of course, Jesus appeared to the disciples again with Thomas present, and he responds with utter and profound faith saying, “My Lord and my God.” “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe,” says Jesus. That’s us, folks. The who-knows-how-many generations of disciples born since the eyewitnesses died. We are left to believe without first-hand evidence. His wounded yet living body isn’t available for us to behold. Or isn’t it? Friends, maybe I’m especially aware of this because I am a priest in this parish, but there are those among us whose personal struggles chill me to the bone. Financial setbacks, deadly diseases, family tragedy and dysfunction, addiction, all those things that could cause one to feel singled out as a target for evil…they’re all here. And yet these same wounded people – you probably know who I’m talking about – these same people, in the midst of their isolation say to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Even in the midst of suffering they are fervent in their prayers, they minister to their community as though they had no needs of their own, and by their lives they make Christ alive. There is the paradox: We see the risen Christ in those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. By the Spirit we encounter the Resurrection personally in the faith of those whose faith is challenged most. In other words, belief begets belief, and the Resurrection is thus transmitted not only from person to person, but from generation to generation as well. As Fr. John pointed out to us last week, when it comes to the Resurrection, seeing Jesus in his human bodily flesh is not believing for us latter-day disciples. But through the lens of belief we see the Resurrection all around us, and we likewise project the Resurrection to those around us through that same lens of belief. I’d like to conclude by giving you a little pastoral tool. Whenever darkness surrounds you, whenever events in your life seem to conspire to obscure God from your sight, try to remember the words of Thomas and say to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” Because by saying those words we invite the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, and we and those around us are blessed by the vision of Jesus who is alive and well. Amen. The Rev’d Robert M. Odom M.Div., Curate |
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