Scriptures: Psalm 16: Acts 2:14a,22-32: Canticle 13, A Song of Praise; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Canticle 18, A Song to the Lamb: John 20:19-31
Reflection by Marianne Gould
“I'll believe it when I see it!” - Walking the trail - Trusting in the Resurrection
Reflection by Marianne Gould
The Apostle Thomas, the primary topic of the Gospel today, is often referred to a Doubting Thomas... as someone less than... someone who is a day late and a dollar short of witnessing the Resurrected Jesus... the Christ. I guess if I had to choose an adjective to go with my name, "Doubting" isn't the worst thing to be known by. The Risen Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene and the women.
When they told of the resurrection, the disciples did not believe. The Risen Christ appeared to the disciples, later that day, when they were locked away in an upper room. They saw Jesus. They talked with him, they spent time with him. They saw...they believed. Mary Magdalene and the women saw Jesus
resurrected... they believed! The disciples saw Jesus resurrected in the upper
room ... they believed! Thomas did not see the Risen Christ. He only heard about it. It is not surprising that Thomas was doubtful of their story! It seems that even in Jesus' time... seeing was believing.
In verse 25, Thomas said "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." Thomas could not believe that Jesus was alive, even though that's what his friends were telling him! He hadn't seen it! How could he be sure!
Can you relate to Thomas' predicament? This event happened thousands of years ago, but even in today's world, how can we be sure that what we hear is the truth? Isn't it more likely that we are skeptical of what we hear? We prefer to see it for ourselves and hear it with our own ears... then, and only then... perhaps we can believe. With all the misinformation and disinformation floating around these days on social platforms, it is more than a challenge to separate fact from fiction.
What and Who can we believe ... and what needs to be thrown out and locked away? Is our faith one that blindly believes what we are told...or do we sometimes doubt. .. just like Thomas?
As a part of my study in writing sermons, it has become my practice to read several translations of the text. I don't do this because I do not believe what the text says. I read several texts in order to help me understand what is being said.
Looking through a different perspective may shine a light on the text and help me look deeper into God's word.
One of the translations I used for this text is The First Nation's Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. l Peter 1: 9 says: "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." Isn't that a beautiful way of looking at the Resurrection? In thinking about all the beautiful hiking and walking trails in Sitka... stepping forward along these trails with Jesus, we can affirm our faith even when we cannot see. "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." That translation, especially within all the beauty in Sitka, feels much more meaningful than "for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
The next thing I noticed is that when Thomas was able to be with Jesus, Jesus did not ridicule him, belittle him, laugh at him or chastise him in any way. Jesus merely said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.''
In the Indigenous Translation of the New Testament John 20: 27 says "Look closely at my hands and touch my scars with your finger. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Then put away your doubts and trust in me."
Hearing Jesus' voice encouraging Thomas to see and feel his wounds is so reaffirming. Jesus is giving Thomas (and us) permission to doubt, to ask questions, to be skeptical. Jesus is not ashamed of his wounds. He shows the signs of the wounds to his disciples, all the external wounds Jesus experienced at the hands of the Roman Empire.
In the book Barking to the Choir, Father Gregory Boyle, who leads an organization for gang members trying to get their lives straight, he tells the story of Sergio. "I wore 3 t-shirts to school to hide my mother's beatings, cuz I was ashamed of my scars....But now I welcome my wounds. I run my fingers over my scars. My wounds are my friends. After all, how can I help others heal if I don't welcome my own wounds?"
We too all have wounds... some that can be seen and some that are hidden in the recesses of our psyche. Thomas' story is a reminder that we are not alone. Jesus had wounds too. The disciples had wounds from this as well. They had run from perceived danger. They had fallen asleep when he prayed. They had disappeared when he needed them... and they had even denied knowing him ... yet he showed no anger. Jesus did not seek retribution for their lack of faith. He did not chastise them for the weakness of their faith. Jesus had already embraced his wounds.
A few Sundays ago, Nancy Jo Bleier in her meditation, gave some beautiful examples of how different cultures embrace their wounds. I spent some time that following week thinking about my own wounds, both those you might see or even those I try to keep hidden. Have I learned to embrace them ... no longer feeling shame or anger? Have I worked through those wounds enough that I can help others to heal? Or do I try to hide them and hope that no one will notice them? Am I willing to be in conversation with the Holy Spirit so that I can help others by sharing my experience, strength and hope?
In verse 22 of the NRSV, Jesus breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." In the first nation version "He blew his breath on them and said, "You will breathe in and receive the Holy Spirit." Accompanied by the Holy Spirit all the disciples are S EN T out to share their experience, strength and hope. You might be saying to yourself.. .I cannot do that. I am afraid of speaking of Jesus and his resurrection.
Rumi, a 13th century Persian Sufi wrote "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" The disciples' experience of being locked in a room out of fear is one that many of us understand. Fear often feels like a prison, and what we are afraid of can truly be a threat to our mental and physical well-being. The resurrection, however, opens the prison door, and the Spirit that Jesus breathed on the disciples enabled them to be sent. The Spirit that Jesus breathed on them that day is the same Spirit that Jesus B R E A T H E S on us today. You are called and sent into the world today to make a difference. "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" Amen