April 27 2025 Easter 2
Acts 5.27-32 Psalm 118.14-29 Revelation 1.4-8 John 20.19-31
How often do you struggle to understand, or accept or believe something that you have been told about because it goes against what you ‘know’ or think is possible, and it is not until you actually see it that you are able to understand or believe it.
In our gospel reading, it is still the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Although we heard about it last week in our readings, today’s readings are still the same day. Earlier on this day, as we heard last week, the women came to the tomb and found it empty and were told he had risen. When they told the disciples they thought the women were telling ‘idle tales’, they didn’t believe them, but Peter then went to the tomb, saw with his own eyes and was ‘stunned’ at what he saw. He needed to see, before he believed. Now, those same disciples are locked behind closed doors because they are fearful that the Roman authorities will come for them and possibly do to them what they did to Jesus. And in the middle of this closed room, suddenly Jesus comes through the walls and stands among the disciples. His first words are words we hang on to and repeat frequently – peace be with you. And he says it twice and then gives the disciples John’s version of Pentecost – he breathes the Holy Spirit into them. Today, Jesus gives the disciples two gifts – the Spirit and peace and he then gives them a clear mission – go out to the whole world, forgiving sins.
Thomas wasn’t there on that first day. It is interesting in that we often speak disparagingly about Thomas, but, he wasn’t locked up in a room ‘for fear’, he was ‘out and about’. Thomas is the only disciple who does not appear to be fearful of Roman soldiers coming to arrest him. He is out in the community doing other things. And when he hears that Jesus has appeared to the disciples, he, understandably, is unsure. He wants to ‘see it for himself’. And put in that situation, I think many of us might also want to ‘see before we believe’. It is a natural human trait, when in doubt; ask questions. When unsure of the facts; try to prove them. When you are confronted by things that defy logic or go against what we know to be possible; research it, explore it, look for answers in other areas. And that is basically what Thomas is doing. We know that he was not afraid to ask questions. When Jesus told the disciples he was going to make for them a place ‘in his father’s house’, and then told them they knew where he was going, Thomas interrupts him and tells him, ‘no, we don’t know where you are going, how can we know’. And on anther occasion when Thomas told Jesus he was crazy for wanting to go back to Jerusalem where his enemies were out to get him, but Jesus insisted he was still going, Thomas replied ‘let us go and die with him’. This was not a man who appeared to be backward in coming forward. He was not afraid to call a spade a spade and he also was not afraid to tell you when what you were saying was outside his level of understanding.
So when Jesus appears to the disciples a second time, and Thomas is with them this time, it is not surprising that Jesus appears to be targeting Thomas. He is anxious to answer Thomas’ questions. ‘look at my hands, put your hand in my side’, Jesus is providing Thomas with the answers he seeks. Yes he is real. Yes he can be touched – therefore his is not a ghost. Yes he still has wounds. And then Thomas offers what has to be the best statement of faith there is – ‘My Lord and My God’.
I don’t like the term doubting Thomas, because it infers that asking for clarification, asking questions, seeking answers is a negative thing. But it is only if we ask questions, only if we seek answers and clarification, that we will learn and grow.
As we heard in our first reading, Peter ‘witnesses to these things’, he offers explanation to people’s questions, he provides clarification to people’s confusion and uncertainty. And rather than just telling people about Jesus, he ‘witnesses’ to them by beginning where the risen Christ has been active in our own lives and the lives of those around us. Jesus had Thomas touch his wounds, if we are willing to share our wounds with others, share those places where we have found healing by God’s power, then we will be witnessing like Peter.
And the Easter task given to the disciples is given to us too, forgive. Forgiveness is the only task for which Jesus gave his disciples specific instructions. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Forgive when your gut instinct is to retaliate. Forgive when the pain is still raw. Forgive even when the other does not ask for it. Because unless you can forgive, that pain, that hurt, will grab you and not let you go, and you will be imprisoned by it.
Christ is risen. Let us celebrate that resurrection and continue the task given to the disciples.