Second Sunday of Easter: Doubt Is The Way To Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 5:27-32 (NRSV)

When the temple police had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Psalm 118:14-29 (BCP., p.761-763)


Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

Over the span of Church History, St. Thomas got a bad rap.  It was thought that Thomas doubting the Resurrection and wanting proof suggests that he was a man of weak faith.

Thomas is the one who wants more than just the words of the Disciples that Jesus rose from the dead.   Thomas wants to know it for Himself.  Thomas along with the other Apostles heard Jesus say on many occasions that He would go to Jerusalem, be put to death and rise again.  Thomas was not satisfied with the words alone.  Thomas did not want to believe on pure blind faith.  Thomas wanted his faith to be affirmed by the physical touch of Jesus and to know the words from Jesus to Thomas' heart were reliable.  Thomas wanted more than the literal translation.  Thomas wanted to see the truths he had been told become part of his every day experience.

The Rev. Barbara Mraz wrote these outstanding words in her blog for this Second Sunday of Easter, entitled "Got Doubt?"

"I don't think that doubt is the enemy of faith, but blind fanaticism is." 

Blind fanaticism can take the form of Biblical literalism to the point of lobbying for those crazy "Religious Freedom" bills, that really are no freedom of religion at all.  They are only the freedom of religion for over zealous conservative Christians to justify discrimination towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their struggle towards full equality.  The fanaticism behind the "Religious Freedom" laws is about control.  The ultra-conservative Christians want to be the voice and law makers as to how Christianity will be defined in American politics.  It does not stop with LGBTQ people, it extends to women's reproductive rights, health care, education, climate change and managing gun violence.

Thomas' encounter with the Risen Christ in our Gospel story today, tells us to doubt the fanatical and search for the faith that allows us to question how things have been, so that the Holy Spirit may "lead us into all truth."  This kind of faith questions on a level of deep trust, not in our certainties of what we think and/or do.  The kind of faith that Thomas' doubt leads to breaks the hard concrete, and makes it into a wonderful flowing stream of life giving water.   The same water that flowed in our Baptism and makes all of us in our diversity of beliefs and convictions part of the one family of Christ known as the Church.

May we with Thomas never dismiss doubt as an obstacle to faith, but embrace it with trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us towards the truths we have yet to receive and live by.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 224)

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Second Sunday of Easter: Thank You Thomas

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:32-35 (NRSV)

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Psalm 133 (BCP., p.787)


1 John 1:1-2:2 (NRSV)

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

Imagine what a great world we would have if all of us lived like those first Christians in Acts 4:32-35.  Everything was truly held in common.  Those who had property sold it and gave the proceeds to those who needed it.  If such a community in the times in which these events occurred was not all that well received by the power structures then; they certainly are not a draw for popularity now.  Every politician and religious based organization would be put to shame.  Such is mostly the case now.  Is it any wonder why many see the Christian religion as a stage act full of soap box speeches?  

A Christian community such as what is described to us in Acts needs witnesses to the redemption of Christ.  It also requires those who profess a belief in the Incarnation and Paschal Mysteries to give evidence of what they believe in how they live.  How can we give evidence of what we believe those first Apostles saw if we ourselves have not seen Jesus alive after the resurrection? 

This is where Thomas comes in.  Speaking to the Soul: Touching Faith an article in The Episcopal Cafe says it well.

Lucky Thomas, he literally got hands-on proof to bolster his faith. We will have to wait a little longer for that awesome experience. Until that time, Jesus tells us we are blessed because we believe in what we do not see. But before we congratulate ourselves on a pious achievement, we should understand that our faith is entirely a gift from God. It is his grace infused in us, not a virtue generated by us. Our job is to cooperate with God’s grace… to nurture, protect and share it. That means our faith cannot be rationed, hoarded or hidden. Jesus did not go to the cross so that closet Christians could slink under the radar of an increasingly cynical, secular world.

In a world in which hospitality, reconciliation and healing are less appreciated unless their is a large sum of money is on the other end of achieving it; the experience of those first Apostles and especially Thomas seems like a long shot.  On the contrary, the opportunity to witness the power of Christ's resurrection and a faith like that of Thomas is in our neighbor next door, our co-worker, the transgender person just beaten when a guy found out his date has different organs that what she/he appears.  The Risen Christ comes and says, "peace be with you" to the communities all around the world wounded by racism, sexism and religious intolerance.  Those who are tired of the Christian religion being used as an excuse for this ridiculous  argument of "religious liberty" to exempt public services from serving LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jewish people and more; the Risen Christ invites you to come and put your hands in the holes in his hands, feet and side.  The Common English Bible for John 20:27b reads that Jesus told Thomas, "No more doubting!  Believe!"  Such is what the Risen Christ tells us know.

We are able to doubt and find faith, because Thomas was a skeptic.  He was not satisfied with just being told that Christ rose, he wanted to see it for himself.  He questioned faith, and he found faith.  Because of Thomas' courage, we who have not seen the Risen Christ as Thomas did are blessed when we believe without seeing.  We are empowered to be witnesses of the Resurrection as we embrace the disenfranchised, the oppressed and  those living with injustice; and respect the dignity of every human being.

Thank you Thomas!

Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord in risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter.  The Book of Common Prayer. p. 224).

 O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

Second Sunday of Easter: Thank God for Thomas

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 (NRSV)

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the multitude, "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know-- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

`I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;

therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

moreover my flesh will live in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One experience corruption.

You have made known to me the ways of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying ,

`He was not abandoned to Hades,

nor did his flesh experience corruption.'

This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."

Psalm 16 (BCP., p.599).


1 Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith-- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on the day of Resurrection, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

One of the fads on Facebook that has become an addiction for many people, and in some ways myself, is the Buzzfeed surveys.  If you answer a particular set of questions, you can find out things like What Disney Cartoon Character you are.  Other possibilities are What Religion Are You?   How many 80's movies you have watched.  One survey was what kind of Christ you are.  The answers were quite interesting.  If you answered the questions in a particular way, you could learn that you are the Medic Jesus who heal people.  You might be the Preachy Jesus.   The types of surveys and answers are all over the map.  I play a few behind the scenes, but I make it my business not to post the answers I get, except for a few.   And my reason for doing that, is because I don't want those surveys and the answers I get to become the means by which I identify or define myself.  Nor do I want others to use them to identify things about me.  I feel that my identity is first and foremost an adopted son of God, by the redemption of Jesus Christ.  Whatever my sexual orientation or gender identity is, my national origin, language, etc., they are all labels the become opportunities for me to be compared and/or designated certain opportunities based on those.   All of those are nothing compared to the opportunities I am given because of the difference the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ has made in my life.

When the Risen Christ appeared to those first Disciples while Thomas were not present, they experienced the saving grace of God that changed their lives forever.  They were filled with sorrow for all that had happened on Good Friday.  They were locked behind closed doors for fear of being arrested because they were previously with Jesus.  They heard the stories of Mary and those who were at the tomb when Jesus rose from the dead.  But, they just did not believe it.  If all of that were not believable, suddenly the Risen Christ appeared with the words: "Peace be with you."   Those first Apostles ran away when He was nailed to the Cross.  Peter denied Jesus three times.  All Jesus was concerned with, was bringing God's peace upon those scared, sad and discouraged Disciples.  

Thomas represents in all of us that doubting moment.  The doubt that is not satisfied by the words that came to him about the Resurrection.  Thomas wanted to see the Risen Christ for himself.   Thomas was the skeptic.  He's the skeptic that plays the devil's advocate in the middle of a meeting.   Everyone wants to finish up and go home.  The skeptic wants to see that which satisfies her/his curiosity.   But, Jesus comes even to those who have doubts.  The Risen Christ is alive and calling even the skeptics among us.   "Peace be with you.  See my hands and my feet.  Touch me and see."  Thomas cries those wonderful words "My Lord and My God" as a statement of faith.  The faith that became his sight.   Because he doubted and later believed, those who have not seen, but believe through the words and actions of others are blessed indeed.   Our identity as children of God is confirmed through the faith of others who like us doubted, and were later shown God's blessings in their lives.

We are living in some times of real doubts.  The civil unrest in the Ukraine and the threat of more violence from Russia.   The news that we still  have not seen unemployment insurance renewed, or the minimum wage raised leaves so much doubt about what kind of future low income and middle class people have.  Very little has been done to reduce the gun violence that threatens our schools, communities of various peoples, and neighborhoods.  The rhetoric by Christianists towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people continues to be violent, even with all the progress we have made towards marriage equality and more.  The terrible ruling by the Supreme Court this week with regards to Affirmative Action in Michigan.  The way in which women are victimized as second class citizens with regards to work, equal pay and reproductive health care.

The problem is, we still live in an age and world where the dignity of every human person is the least of our concern.  Instead of loving our neighbor as ourselves, we are loving money, power, prestige, popularity and the ability to draw attention to ourselves.  We do not want to share our country with the many immigrants who want a chance to make a life for themselves.  We want to keep an "other" so that we feel like we have power and control over things around us.  We walk by sight, not by faith.

Jesus comes to us, alive and offers us peace in the midst of our chaos.  He comes to invite us to touch him through the wounds of prejudice, indifference, and oppression and see that our broken humanity can and will be healed through God's transforming grace.  The Risen Christ beacons us to see beyond our doubts, stereotypes and preconceived notions and see Jesus offering us peace, healing and reconciliation.  Jesus offers us the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of our sins through His Death and Resurrection, with the opportunity to start over again and again. 

As Easter Week ends, and we continue through this wonderful season in the Church; we have the opportunity to meet the Risen Christ and love Him in one another.  We can embrace one another by forgiving each other and being forgiven.  We can be restored to friendship with God through God's mercy in Christ, and find our way back to being true Disciples full of hope and peace.

Peace be with you.  

Alleluia! Christ is risen
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 224).

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).

Second Sunday of Easter: From Doubt to Healing in Faith, Hospitality and Reconciliation

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 5:27-32 (NRSV)

When the temple police had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Psalm 118 (BCP., p. 761)


Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

The Apostles in Acts find themselves being questioned by the council about their activities.  They had apparently not accepted the authorities request that they stop speaking in the Name of the Risen Christ.  Their words have brought happiness to those who have received the message of salvation joyfully.   As for those who were not so impressed, they are becoming a nuisance. The work of the Apostles is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  St. Luke as the author of Acts, quotes from Deuteronomy 21: 22 in which Jesus was "hung on a tree."  Peter appropriately states that he and the other Apostles are witnesses to Jesus' death and resurrection as is the Holy Spirit who has given them God's work to accomplish.   

I think among the things we can take from the reading from Acts is that the work of the Gospel is the occupation of all who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified and risen from the dead.   Though society and even the Church may become disillusioned about how the Gospel is proclaimed, it is the work of those of us who have witnessed the power of the Paschal Mystery in our Baptism, Holy Communion and our every day lives.  The Easter Mystery that we have been celebrating these past eight days, and for the next forty-two becomes visible as we become the Risen Christ for others.   The power of the Resurrection gains even more ground when we take the time and opportunity to recognize the Risen Christ in each other.  Especially, but not limited to, those who are different from ourselves. 

Among the many reasons why the Christian Faith suffers so badly, is because of how Christians have limited the Gospel to our circles of privileged persons.  As Christianity spread and became part of the European culture, and eventually the culture of the America's, many other religions, cultures and races became subjected to oppression and violence. Violence in the Name of Christ, is zeal that has been directed by error, not truth or conviction. When conviction becomes an excuse for a lack of basic Christian Charity, the message behind the conviction becomes a weapon of mass destruction.  Not a ministry of evangelization and conversion.  As a result, the Easter event of the Resurrection becomes a fairy tale to those who are not privileged.  Not the message of salvation for the whole world.

As we turn from Acts to the reading from St. John's Gospel, we see that Jesus had a tremendous amount of compassion.  Especially for those who ran while He was crucified on Good Friday.  The Resurrected Jesus appears to the Apostles, those cowardly men and said "Peace be with you."  Jesus' message sounds very much like the Father receiving the Prodigal Son from the parable in Luke 15: 11b-32.  Jesus, who is God's perfect Revelation of Self, comes and greets those men with peace and the breath of the Holy Spirit, so that they can do the work of forgiveness and reconciliation on His behalf.  

I am ever so glad that over the years there has been a progression away from seeing St. Thomas' disbelief as making him weak.  The "doubting Thomas" idea has been adopted by many who feel that unless they see it in its physical reality, they just cannot believe.  To totally condemn this idea, is to flip the bird in total ignorance to what Jesus does with Thomas' situation.  Thomas' doubt opens the door for faith, that becomes the greatest of proclamations.  "My Lord, My God" says Thomas.  Thomas' faith is strengthened not by the fact that he originally doubted, but that Jesus met his doubt, and Thomas grew in faith and trust in God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ.  Jesus then completes his work by saying in the words of the Common English Bible: "No more doubting. Believe!"  Jesus tells Thomas and us to learn from this example and to put our trust in Him to lead us to a closer relationship with God and one another.  Jesus accomplishes this by God's ministry of hospitality and reconciliation with those who are afraid, weak, and becoming their every reason to find their strength in the joy of the Lord.

Every one of us finds our faith in the Risen Christ shaken from time to time.  We see Christians continuing to use the religion as a means for power, domination and the spreading of hate, wealth and prestige.  In today's Gospel, Jesus turns the weakness of faith in the Apostles into a moment of spreading peace, joy and hope.  The Church needs to continue that work in today's world.  We must not cling to doctrine only at the expense of lively faith, Charity, service and mission.  We ought to be inspired to be open to being servants to everyone, without exception out of thanksgiving to God for all God has accomplished on our behalf.  We must bring hope to women who continue to be marginalized and victimized by a male privileged society. We must end the religious based bigotry towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  There is a whole mission field that we can all participate in by calling for the end of injustices such as: President Obama's chained CPI cuts to Social Security, the sequester that is reeking havoc on the lives of cancer patients nation wide, and the abuses of the oil industry.  

St. Anselm of Canterbury once wrote: “For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe-that unless I believe I shall not understand.”

If we are to demonstrate belief in the Resurrection, so that we and others may understand what Easter means, then we need to be willing to live as Easter Christians.   Thomas like so many of us, need the community of others around us to point us to the Risen Christ in the world.  The community of society and the Church needs all of us who believe, to do the same.   

May the song of Easter with Alleluia's ringing out like there is no tomorrow, be our trumpet call to live the Resurrection story in our lives.

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.224).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Mission of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.818).


Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

St. Thomas the Apostle: The Saint Who Dared to Confirm Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

Habakkuk 2: 1-4 (NRSV)

I will stand at my watchpost,

and station myself on the rampart;

I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,

and what he will answer concerning my complaint.

Then the LORD answered me and said:

Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so that a runner may read it.

For there is still a vision for the appointed time;

it speaks of the end, and does not lie.

If it seems to tarry, wait for it;

it will surely come, it will not delay.

Look at the proud!

Their spirit is not right in them,

but the righteous live by their faith.

Psalm 126 (BCP, p. 782)


Hebrews 10:35-11:1 (NRSV)

Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

For yet "in a very little while,

the one who is coming will come and will not delay;

but my righteous one will live by faith.

My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back."

But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

John 20: 24-29 (NRSV)

Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Blog Reflection

Mother Prioress Delores Hart, OSB once said: "If you can have hope, you just may find faith."  

St. Thomas was the Apostle who dared to confirm faith.  He was not satisfied with the words of others.  Thomas wanted faith on a realistic level, not a superficial level.  He wanted to know for certain that what he was to believe had the sustainability that the world around him did not have.  

It takes a great act of faith to not settle for the superficial and ask for confirmation.  In questioning, we open ourselves to God's answer.   Then faith is much more a matter of trust.   By faith, I not only mean what is written and proclaimed in the Creeds or the articles of religion.  When I write of the faith that I believe Thomas was seeking, I mean he really wanted a reason to let go of his certainty.  I think a better word for faith is the word trust.

As I was doing my Lectio Divina on this Gospel reading this morning, I used the recently approved Common English Bible.  When I got to Chapter 20: verse 27 the very last sentences in the NRSV reads: "Do not doubt but believe." I found myself disturbed a bit by the wording in the Common English Bible that reads: "No more disbelief. Believe!"

What might it mean for us to hear the words "No more disbelief.  Believe!"? 

I think we are all in a state of disbelief that one week ago today, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT with the intention to shoot and killed 26 individuals, 20 of them 6 or 7 year olds.   How could this have happened?   I think we are all in disbelief that there are still individuals who think that the solution to these things not happening again is more guns.  What is more to disbelieve than the fact that our public schools as early as the elementary grades are no longer completely safe from the most heinous of violence?

What happens when we find ourselves in a place where we disbelieve?

I think the word disbelieve is a word that disturbs us.  We want to believe in something. We want to have that trust that God really does have our best interests in God's heart.  We desire to believe that God really does love all of humankind with an inclusive love.  That God wants justice and equality for all people.   However, we, like Thomas have to be willing to step up and ask God to help us to confirm our faith and trust that what God wants is true and real.    Because, when we do that, God will answer: "I have sent you."

The Common English Bible's translation of Hebrews 11:1 is: "Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see."  Faith looks for God to continually reveal God's Self in new and awesome ways.  To help us to not surmise God, but to see that God is continuously evolving.

The evolutionary God is not the omnipotent God who is every where, to prevent every evil from happening.   In many ways, God has not ended all oppression, violence and cruelty.   God does not intervene where humans exercise their free will.   However, when humankind is willing to answer "Here I am, send me" with the Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 6:8, God will so work with us to do so much. 

When it comes to ending the discrimination and oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people in the Church and society, God has called us to be about the work of doing that.  

Who else, but us have the power to stop drone missiles from killing innocent civilians, women, men and children in Pakistan?  

We do have the opportunity to speak up about the injustice of putting Social Security on the table in negotiations over the fiscal cliff crisis. That putting the stability and sustainability of retired, disabled and poor people in the playing cards for asking the wealthiest to pay a bit more to help fund education, infrastructure and homeland security is an injustice.  Now is the time to be speaking up and acting with regards to this kind of evil in our Nation.

The time to demand that more be done in terms of helping those suffering from mental illness so that they have access to affordable health care, psychiatric medicine and an opportunity to be functioning individuals in our society, is now. 

We all have an opportunity today, to do some thing that helps reduce gun violence on our streets, in our schools, in our houses of worship and local communities. 

When we go before Jesus in prayer, and ask as Thomas did to show us his wounded hands and side, Jesus will tell us: "No more disbelief.  Believe!"   In other words, don't just sit staring at the television with all the horrible reports and do nothing.  Spend some time in prayer.  Write a letter.  Join a local organization and begin helping in efforts to make your local community a better place for all people.   See the wounds of Christ as those in all of our sisters and brothers, and believe that the Risen Christ can impact those who have not seen him, to believe through what God does through us.

No more disbelief.  Believe!

Amen.


Prayers

Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with
firm and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so
perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our
Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting
in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Thomas, Book of Common Prayer, p. 237).

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 99).

Second Sunday of Easter: Titanic vs. Thomas, Faith and the Resurrection

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:32-35 (NRSV)

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Psalm 133 (BCP,. p. 787)


1 John 1:1-2:2 (NRSV)

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

100 years ago today at 2:20am on April 15, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic killing 1494 people.   It was believed to be the largest moving object ever made in all history up to that point in time.  The ship was believed to be "unsinkable."   Just one hour and forty minutes give or take a few before sinking, the Titanic hit an ice berg.  It is said that from the moment it hit and it's lower compartments were punctured, Titanic took on 7 gallons of ice cold ocean water per second.  After the "unsinkable ship" sank, those who were left in the freezing Atlantic brutally died of hypothermia.  Only six people were saved by one of the twenty boats that came back to see if anyone was still alive.

I have been somewhat obsessed with the Titanic ever since I watched the movie made by James Cameron in 1997.  As part of our remembrance of this history tragedy, Jason and I watched Titanic in 3-D last night.  Every time I see the movie, from the moment Titanic hits the ice berg to the moment Jack Dawson dies in the frigid water, while Rose lays on a floating piece of the now sunken ship, I walk away from it reflecting on some powerful spiritual and moral meditations from Titanic.  Among them is the imagery of a very wealthy, selfish and abusive individual who is willing to risk his life to control a woman who does not love him, and the diamond he bought her, who won't even allow a nearly drowning man on board the life boat he is in, because he will swamp the boat and possibly kill him.  On the other hand, we have a poor man,with barely $10 in his pocket.  He doesn't even have a home to call his own.  He and his friend Fabrizio risk every thing to save not only themselves, but others around them.  As I watch this particular part of the block buster, I remember the words of Jesus: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13).

Another story that also moves me to some amazing reflections is today's Gospel of the Risen Jesus and the encounter with the Apostles, in particular Thomas.  Jesus breathed on them the gift of God's Spirit and gave them the ministry of reconciliation.  Thomas was not there to be part of it.  When the other disciples told Thomas, he would not believe what they told him, until he put his hands into the nail prints and into the side of the Risen Christ.  Thomas was simply wanting proof of the story he was told.   When Jesus appears to all of them with Thomas present one week later, he simply invites Thomas to come forward and confirm what he was told.  Jesus doesn't scold or shame Thomas.  Jesus gives Thomas what he asked for.  The opportunity to grow in his faith and witness for himself the power and mercy of the Risen Christ.  In Thomas' amazement he says; "My Lord, and my God."  When Jesus says "blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe" Jesus is okay with what he did for Thomas.  He is also okay for those who will believe in him through the testimony and personal witness of others who come to know Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead.

In this present time, we don't get to see the Risen Jesus appearing before our eyes.  We do not have a direct connection to the Apostles of the first and second centuries to tell us how recent those events would have been.  We know there was an early Christian Church that was unified, and helped many people according to the reading from Acts.  But, we do not have proof in our hands and/or before us, by ourselves.  It is only through communities of Faith, where there is true charity and where people worship, live and struggle together that the Risen Christ becomes visible to us.   In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus Christ who rose on that first Easter Day, comes to us under the appearance of Bread and Wine, consecrated with the Holy Spirit called down to sanctify them that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ.  In the celebration of Holy Communion the words that Jesus spoke in John 15:13 become true as he lives the meaning of what he said in us and one another. 

The evidence of the Risen Christ is also made known when we look beyond gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, challenge, language, immigration status, culture, etc and see a face and a name in others who are different from ourselves.  The truth of the Real Presence of Christ in Holy Communion bears fruit when Christians work for justice, freedom from oppression, discrimination and violence for the marginalized by the Church and society.  When we speak up about the injustice of corporations taking over the government, our courts and our political process and demand that people and the issues that affect our daily lives becomes our first priority, the Risen Christ becomes visible.  When we denounce the anti-Semitism towards the Jewish people and recognize them as our elders in the Faith, we become witnesses to the hope of Christ in our time.  When we refuse to engage in the violence that targets Muslims, a woman's reproductive health care, and voter suppression out of concern for equality and justice for all people, the Risen Christ with our wounded humanity comes in our midst and calls us to touch him and love him.

To me, the individuals that knew that their end was near on Titanic, but saw to do good for others in spite of it all, demonstrated the power and hope of the Resurrected Jesus.  Those who knew that they did not quite measure up to the first class standards, as the ship was sinking and held down, took care of what was in front of them before they died.  Such as the mother in bed with her children, telling them the story of the land of eternal youth and beauty.  She recognized that this was the end of the road for them all, but she still put her children before herself.

How do we reveal the presence of the Risen Christ in our lives, communities and homes?

Whether we are people who believe, or if we are skeptical and doubt, the Risen Christ comes to us.   We are never left alone. 

As Easter People, we are called to take care of what we have before us, here and now.  This moment is the one in which the grace of the Risen Christ is present, speaking and acting on our behalf.  We can trust that he will be there in the next, but only if we tend to the Risen Christ at this point in time.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 224).

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of
the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this
day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week
to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.  (Collect for Sundays, Book of Common Prayer, p. 96).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).  

St. Thomas the Apostle: The Saint for the Skeptic In All of Us

Scripture Reading

John 20:24-29 (NRSV)

Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Blog Reflection

This time of year Christians become very selfish.  We are so excited as the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord approaches.  The richness of our faith this time of the year becomes very real for me.  Everything I believe as a Christian what is good and not so good about our faith has it's shining moment at Christmas.

It is by no accident that the Episcopal Church has placed the Holy Day of St. Thomas on December 21st.  A day of meditation for the skeptic that is in all of us.

Last night in my personal prayer time I found myself at a moment of skepticism.  I decided to pick Psalm 120 as the reading from Scripture that I would devote some time in prayer with.  When I read verses 1 and 2 from the Coverdale Psalter in the Book of Common Prayer on page 778 I found myself with a real problem.  The verses say: "When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; I called to the LORD, and he answered me.   Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from the deceitful tongue."  I was trying to meditate with verse 1 as it was, but something just did not seem right.  Then I decided it was time to look up the same verse in the New Revised Standard Version.  It reads: "In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me; Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."  Now something made sense to me.

The "distress" or even the "trouble" for which I cry to God is in the here and now.  The "lying lips and deceitful tongue" that I need to be delivered from are talking here and now.  When I finally arrived at that understanding, now God's Holy Spirit and I could have a conversation.

St. Thomas was not satisfied with the first words he heard from the mouth of the disciples.  He was distressed by the events that had taken place.  Jesus' death and passion made no sense to Thomas.  He felt like whatever great thing he was hoping would happen because of Jesus just didn't happen.  Kind of like the loan one needs to buy a house or a car, and the bank just didn't come through.  Thomas felt like it was all useless and hopeless.   The disciples words that they had seen and touched the risen Christ was suppose to suddenly make him forget the grief and loss he was feeling? 

If there is one thing I would want Christians and LGBTQ people to understand is that the subject of religion and sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression remain a very painful experience for way too many people.  After centuries of Christians basing their understanding of homosexuality as the ultimate, uncompromising no no because of erroneous interpretations from the Bible, it is taking and will take a long time before Christians and LGBTQ people will be reconciled.   Especially since there are Christianist groups all around us in all denominations and/or branches of the Christian Church, even those that are open and affirming who are just not accepting this new understanding that God really does not condemn homosexuality and LGBT people.  That being said, I do not think that parties on either side can blame each other for the skepticism that is there and is so very difficult to change.

LGBTQ people have such a negative experience of Christians trashing us, that when we hear the news of the Annunciation of Jesus to Mary, the story of Jesus' resurrection, we meet them with intense skepticism.  Our ears hear a beautiful story of faith and inclusion.  But, Christians from various walks talk to us and about us as if because of who we are and how we love others, we are on the damnation side of that message.  After hearing that a hundred thousand times, along with "you can be saved, but only if you repent and change" many LGBT people just throw the faith back and say: "I want nothing to do with it."

On the flip side, many Christians in the pews have heard theologians, Bishops and many others talk about homosexuality in the negative for much too long.  Most of the Christians who attend church are at the mercy of well educated women and men who are telling them their understanding of God's word as if everything they say must be taken literally with all the fear of the unknown that goes with it.  So when an event like ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003 happens, Christians who have had this stuff grilled into them for years, just stand back and look on with a great deal of skepticism.

Skepticism in and of itself is not bad.  Sometimes it is very important to sit back and think before moving forward.  However, when skepticism is fed by ignorance and an unwillingness to continue learning and propels people to violence due to fear, that is not a good thing.  Both sides of the issue of LGBTQ equality and inclusion need to be concerned about that.  Realizing that there are always three fingers pointing back at you, when the one finger is pointed out at someone else.

Our Christian Faith that believes in God's perfect revelation of Self in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again from the dead, tells us that our skepticism needs to be met with what is real about the human experiences of every person.  Grief and betrayal are real experiences for all of us.  Disappointments and resentment will be there when we feel as if there is just no way out for us.  The example of Thomas tells us that it is absolutely okay to question. It may be necessary at  times to doubt doubt and want to know the truth about what we are seeing and/or hearing.  Because when we just feel like we are completely at the end and just want to see God's power for ourselves, that is the moment when the Risen Christ comes to us and says: "Blessed are you that have not seen me, and yet believe."  And we will see and touch something very tangible, very real and it will reveal God's Holy Spirit to us in a way that will meet our sadness and disappointment with the life changing random grace of God.

I understand the reason why many LGBTQ people have given up on faith and religion.  I also understand why the whole subject of organized religion just causes LGBTQ people and many others marginalized by the Church, they just cannot go there without finding themselves in a distress that they just don't know what to do with.  

At the same time, my own experience of being a gay, Episcopalian, partnered Christian has given me reason to know that there is as much good in the Christian Faith for me and my partner as there is the possibility that I will be crushed by something bad.  Because God is so much bigger than all of that, and my being gay is not an obstacle for me to seek God in the way St. Benedict taught in his Rule.  I know that not all of the good Christianity can do for my life is used up. 

St. Thomas helps us know that no matter what we are feeling and/or experiencing in our lives.  Even if it is the damned Church leadership that just makes us angry.  The Incarnate Word in the Risen Jesus comes to us in the midst of our grief and confusion, and invites us all to put our hands in his hands, feet and side.  God's revelation in Jesus heals our wounded skeptical faith and says "Blessed are they who have not seen me and yet believe."  

We can move forward and learn new things about God, ourselves, the Church and each other.  LGBTQ people certainly can be ordained as Bishops, Priests and Deacons, be in religious communities and function as lay people in the Church.  So can women and those who remain marginalized in the Church and society.  Those who are still skeptical about whether we should be doing these things or not, can step out and get to know an LGBTQ person of faith and be drawn into a renewed understanding of God and what the Bible teaches about diverse groups of people.  The wounded relationships can be healed by God's Incarnate Word, crucified and risen again. 

What is it we are still skeptical about? 


Prayers

Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with
firm and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so
perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our
Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting
in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (St. Thomas the Apostle, Book of Common Prayer, page 237),

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,
that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a
mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.  (Fourth Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 212).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 818).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).   

Second Sunday of Easter: Believing in the Resurrection We Cannot See

Scripture Basis

 

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

I really love Thomas. Good for him! Thomas was not ready to believe a story based on what he had been told. Thomas wanted to see the evidence of the disciples' description of what happened. Thomas was not satisfied with the words of those who had told him. Thomas wanted to see for himself if the story he heard was true.

"Truth is a funny thing sometimes" said Ninny Threadgood in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Truth can be frightening.  Truth can also be a very grim picture of reality. Truth can cause us pain as well as happiness.  Truth is also something we prefer to see rather than be told.  What we are told, we can have some kind of skepticism about. 

That is what Thomas did.  Thomas met the story of Jesus' resurrection from the disciples with skepticism.  Perhaps Thomas wanted to be sure that if he was going to commit the rest of his life to telling others about the resurrection he wanted to see it for himself.  I am willing to bet that there was one disciple among them that felt that Thomas was doing them a favor.  He wanted to see the resurrected Christ, so that they could too, to confirm what they might have thought was their imaginations playing tricks on them.

The resurrection for us who cannot see Jesus and/or place our hands in the nail prints of his hands or his side, believing in the risen Christ is more than being able to see and touch.  We have to believe in it through the lives of those who claim to profess it as a part of their faith.

In his Easter Day sermon, The Very Rev. Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey said:

It is not a truth easy for us to receive but it does lie at the heart of God’s purpose in Christ - and it is what Easter is all about: the triumph of self-giving love. Our human instinct is to get and to grasp, to hold on to what is ours, to exercise influence, authority and power. This is quite different from the way God shows us in Christ: the way of self-giving love.

In another paragraph Dean Hall says:

What changes their (the disciples) mind? What makes them get it? The body of Jesus is wrapped hastily in cloths and buried in a borrowed tomb hewn out of the rock. They seal a great stone over the entrance. The end. You know what happens next. We have just listened to St John’s account of the first Easter morning. The tomb is empty and the body gone. Peter and the Beloved Disciple come and see. The risen Lord Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala. Later he appears to the other disciples in different places and in different ways. This is not resuscitation. The body of Jesus has not been revived. This is different. Sometimes they fail at first to recognise him. Mary Magdalene thinks him the gardener. He comes and goes mysteriously. But he is no ghost. They do know it is the Lord. They eat and drink with him. Thomas is able to put his fingers into the holes in his hands and his hand into his side.

There are many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people who have an earnest desire to believe in the goods of the Christian Faith.  What keeps them from believing?  What they are not seeing.   Like Thomas it is not enough for LGBT people to be told that God can "change" their lives in a good way while suggesting that the one thing that they simply cannot change, nor will God change, has to be changed in order for them to give evidence of the resurrection in their lives. 

That is not Good Friday for LGBT people.  That is not Easter Day for LGBT people.  That kind of thing is already hell.  And that kind of thing is precisely why so many young LGBTQ people take their lives through suicide. Because they feel that there is no hope for them in God unless they "change" which leads to them suppressing that part of themselves that was not meant to be suppressed.

If that is the picture of the resurrection that Christians want LGBT people to have, no wonder they would prefer to stay away.

If the resurrection is best evidenced in the "handing over of power" and the "triumph of self-giving love" by trusting in God with a situation as is, then Christians must help LGBT people including teens see that they can approach the risen Christ just as they are, and find fulfillment in God as good and holy people.   Without having to submit themselves to an ex-gay group to feel like that is their only hope. 

To believe in the resurrection we cannot see would be the Church handing over the need to dominate and supercede other religions and points of view that do not fit into the ideal of a Caucasian, heterosexual, English speaking/writing, wealthy, healthy, employed male.  To give evidence of the resurrection so that those who have not seen the risen Christ and yet believe would have to include seeking to end the violence against African Americans, Native Americans, women, LGBT and so on.   It is not enough to wish good things on those who cannot help themselves as James suggest in James 2: 14-26.  "Faith with works is dead."  Faith in the resurrection without working to end prejudice and violence might as well be a dead story.  The Easter story stopped at Good Friday. 

We know that Christians can and do produce really good results when we work for a better tomorrow for those who "walk in darkness and the shadow of death."   When Christians make historic changes that help people see that Christians really seek the good will of all people without necessarily converting every person, new friendships and movements for change begin and thrive.  The wounds of indifference and hate do get healed.  Forgiveness, trust and love help build bridges "between your heart and mine" as Naomi Judd sang, when Christians put aside prejudice and serve others because it is the right thing to do.

As we continue through this Easter Season, let us become the evidence people need to believe in the resurrection they cannot see.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, page 224)

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, page 823).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

St. Thomas the Apostle: Faith and Doubt Find Common Ground

The calendar for the Episcopal Church designates today as the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. The title of "Doubting Thomas" is a fitting title and one that I have heard many Christians give to themselves. The idea that Thomas spoke was "Unless I see,,,,,,I will not believe." (See John 21:24 to 29).

Over the years there has become a much different view of Thomas. The question of Thomas' doubt is actually a courageous prayer "Lord, show yourself to me, that I may believe." How many of us have often prayed: "Oh Lord, if only you will show yourself to me in this situation, then I will believe that you exist." It sounds like a bribers prayer. If only you, then I will.... and so on. But lets face some important facts. There is a lot that goes on in this world that shakes our faith in God. When natural disasters strikes, or someone we love dies or leaves us. When we do not get that job that we need so desperately, or that loved one we pray for to stop drinking too much, or stop abusing someone or stop letting themselves be abused by someone, it can make us feel as if God might not be there or listening. Our faith often seems dependent upon God answering our prayers, our way. And if we do not get what we want, then we blame it all on God for not doing what we wanted, and start questioning our belief in God.

Sometimes God does answer our prayers and desires, but not quite the way we want. God gives us what God knows is best and sometimes what is God's best is not something we want to accept or understand. God knows that we go down those paths in life. And because God is a loving God, God does not set limits on us returning to belief in God and trying again and again to trust God. God wants to reach in and help us to grow in our relationship to God and other people. But God does not do any of that without our willingness to be honest with God about how we feel inside and wanting to get up and try again. The greatest part about God's love is that we do not always have to get it right. We do not have to have it all understood or put in the right order. It is God's job to help us get it in order, all we have to do is come back to God and ask for the grace to trust and start over and over and over again. In time, God uses the things that we have struggled with and uses them to build us up and make us stronger, but we have to start with telling God that we need God to show us and help us to trust and believe in God. It is a prayer that God answers, but a prayer that every believer and doubter needs to pray at some point.

In St. Thomas the Apostle both faith and doubt find their common ground. For it is sometimes when we doubt and ask God to come in the midst of our doubt that our faith in God becomes strengthened and we find a reason to believe again and again. St. Thomas the Apostle is the patron Saint of those who question their faith. St. Thomas' saying "Unless I see,,,,I will not believe" is not so much a weakness as it is a request for Jesus to show Thomas that God really has fulfilled everything that Jesus promised. And when Jesus finally appears and shows Thomas his pierced hands and feet, it is the faith of Thomas which is confirmed and strengthened the cries out: "My Lord, and My God." (John 20:28). The question that St. Thomas asks in his doubt, when God answers his prayer, Thomas' Faith becomes an example and proclaims the Divinity of Jesus Christ as God in the Flesh, the Incarnation we are about to celebrate on Christmas Day.

As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christians how do we face our doubts as we deal with right wing Christians? How are we challenging the Church in our time as many still see LGBT people as "intrinsically disordered?" In those moments when even LGBT accepting and affirming churches might make us wonder if they really are accepting and affirming, how do we face our feelings of doubt and disappointment in our prayers with God? Are we honest with God about our doubts? Are we willing to take the chance to believe and have God affirm our belief?

Today's feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is a great Saint for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christians. In those moments when the Church disappoints us or discriminates against us even still at the end of the year 2009, we can call upon our God in prayer and ask for God's guidance about how we should respond. We can ask that Jesus reveal God to us as Jesus is born in us again today and on Christmas Day. Today is another opportunity to try to show charity. Today is another chance to write a letter to a newspaper editor, or State/Federal Legislator about the "Kill the Gays" bill in Uganda. Today is another day to let that someone special in our life know that we still love them. Today is also another day to spend with a friend or with someone who is lonely and in need of someone to love them. Things like that help God's presence be known in the world. It helps our doubts and the doubts of others begin to see that God has not abandoned the world as of yet.

Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer for St. Thomas, December 21st, Book of Common Prayer, Page 237).