Sunday 19 April 2020

Meditation

When Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of the Day of his resurrection and then eight days later, he spoke to them three times in words that gave them the assurance, encouragement and empowerment they were so badly in need of.

one would have thought that the disciples would have been filled with great joy at the news that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Instead according to the gospels, that evening they were locked behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jews. It could be that they feared being accused of stealing the body of Jesus, or that they simply feared for their own lives and were taking precautions to stay safe. In what they felt to be life- threatening circumstances, the instinct to survive ‘kicked in’. That is what we are seeing today.

Our present situation gives a sense of how the disciples must have felt. Many of us are locked in or locked down, not for fear of the Jews, but for fear of what an invisible enemy, a deadly virus can do to us. We are also locked behind imaginary doors known as social distancing, even from loved ones where necessary.

In these circumstances, Jesus enters and brings us the word that we need to hear, the word the disciples heard: “Peace be with you”.

He was not saying that they would be automatically safe from the Jews. In fact. he warned them before his crucifixion of the persecution they would face. The peace offered by Jesus is that inner peace that comes from knowing that God is with us, whatever we must face. This reflects what Jesus said when he was preparing his followers for his death. Two examples in the gospel according to John are:

“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you:” 14:18
“Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful,” 14:27

It is apparent that Jesus was pointing his disciples to something greater than the peace of the world, the absence of conflict of any sort. Instead it was that peace from the giver of peace, God in Jesus Christ assuring, encouraging and empowering through his Holy Spirit. That is what the discipled received as he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.

We need not dwell in fear, but we are to live in the power of the resurrected Christ who sends out his disciples even as he was sent by the Father. The times in which we live offer an opportunity to go as sent by Jesus, as ambassadors taking to others the same assurance, encouragement and empowerment they also need in the face of today’s challenges and threat to health and life.

One of the disciples, Thomas, was not present when Jesus appeared on that first occasion. He refused to accept that Jesus was alive. He declared he would not believe unless he had tangible proof that it was indeed Jesus. He wanted to see the wounds made by the nails. He wanted to put touch them and place his hand into Jesus’ side before he could believe. Hence, he is often referred to as doubting Thomas.

As we look at the passage it could be concluded that Thomas was not the only doubter. Remember, John makes it a point to state that Jesus showed his hands and his side AND THEN he says, they were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Didn’t they have some initial doubt?
They were presented with proof, the same proof that Thomas needed.

There are some, (I believe a minority), who do not accept the gravity of the situation in which we find ourselves and are not adhering to the protocols established for the safety of all. We must ask, what will it take to convince these persons of what we are up against? What will it take to convince them of the necessity to observe social distancing and the other established guidelines? It can be difficult, depressing and frustrating not to be able to interact as usual. For many, too many, life has become so much more difficult. For many, income has been cut or disappeared with the loss of job. Schools have been shuttered. Life has been turned upside down. And one cannot say when it will end. Above all many have died and will die. I believe that Thomas, he felt that his life had been disrupted beyond measure. He needed proof. Do we need proof beyond what is before us?

Whatever we think, what we need is to know that Jesus comes, not only behind the closed doors as I described earlier, but he comes to us when in doubt, revealing the truths, the reality of our situations, the reality of our lives, so that we may be able to see the hand of God at work even now, and like Thomas declare: My Lord and my God”.

God’s work can be seen in the way we love and care for each other. His work can be seen in the way people are sharing with the less fortunate. He is work seen in the actions and expression of goodwill and appreciation shown to health care workers, front line workers, teachers who do their best to educate our children in these difficult circumstances. In all that we see, hear and experience in this time. We see his hand at work through those who care for the elderly, at home or in instutions.

In these things, we believe that God in Jesus Christ is with us in our situation, bringing that peace which the world cannot give. He is assuring us that we have not been left orphaned. He is breathing new life that dispels fear or doubt, so that through it all, as we acknowledge him we can experience joy, not for suffering but because of the presence of Jesus and like Thomas, proclaim: “my Lord and my God”.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne!

AMEN! AMEN