One of the remarkable things about Christianity is that it is not automatically inherited. You are never born a Christian, no matter who your parents are. You may very well be brought up in a Christian family and be baptized as an infant, but then there inevitably comes a time when one decides whether or not to re-confirm this choice, and to remain an active part of a community of faith. We are not like a closed cult. We are free to leave and enter at will. Another remarkable thing about Christian discipleship is that it not only allows and accepts doubt, it comes close to supporting it. The magnificent surprise and triumph of the Easter story is not complete without the account of so-called doubting Thomas. That is why the Gospel lesson the Sunday after Easter Sunday is always the story of Thomas and his doubts.
The risen Lord did not ignore or slight Thomas, nor was Thomas subject to humiliation and embarrassment. Jesus simply said in effect, “Thomas, I know you have all sorts of questions. That’s o.k. come closer.” The Gospel never records whether or not Thomas actually put his finger into Jesus’ side or felt the print of the nails, but Thomas learns that Jesus understands where he is coming from. That’s what makes Jesus alive and real for Thomas. Thomas knows that new life has indeed touched him. This important passage communicates to us a critical insight that God respects the ambiguities and uncertainties of our humanity. God does not put down honest doubt, differences, and struggle. Instead of condemning us, God invites us to come and probe closer. God gives us space and never insists on absolute certainty.
This past week I met with leaders of some of the various faith communities of Ithaca. I will assure you they, like Ithaca, are quite a diverse lot and reflect different generations. They all realize that the vestry of St. John’s in the coming weeks will be calling a new rector, the first time in over 23 years. They wanted me to assure you that despite their wide range of theological backgrounds, they are all ready to welcome and support your new rector. Inevitable there will be doubts and questioning from some quarters whomever is chosen really should be the one. Yet the words the disciples remembered of Jesus at the last supper were, “love one another; you will be my disciples as you love one another as I have loved you.” In the first meeting of the disciples as a group after the resurrection, Thomas was away. So a week later, Jesus came back. Jesus came back, while Thomas was there with all of them. In front of everyone, Jesus embraces Thomas and all his doubts. There is a lesson for St. John’s somewhere in this, especially in April of 2012, to Love and support your new rector, despite any lingering doubts. Yes, people of resurrection faith are able to do this. Again, your local religious leaders are praying and rooting for the parish and your new rector too.
Jesus sends us out of this place, to bind up to reconcile, to heal. We are given God’s peace to pass and we are warned that we are free to neglect Gods’ call to bind-up, to fail to share the gifts God gives us, and to refuse to participate in God’s mission. We are given God’s love as a gift and to love another, but we are never given God’s absolute truth to brandish as a weapon, or a divine certainty to use as a straightjacket on others. People who use such shackles are never sent as God sent Jesus, and as Jesus sends us.
The Gospel reminds us we don’t have all the answers, and never will on this earth. We don’t need them and neither did Thomas. Struggling over all the specifics of God’s call does not disqualify us from receiving and sharing God’s peace beyond all understanding. The reality of resurrection comes even through our tears of pain, dust of disillusionment, and dismay that some problems seem to linger on and on no matter what our efforts. The gift of Easter doesn’t stop with the Risen Lord sending us out with a peace the world cannot give. The risen Lord returns among us and embraces us as we work out the quandaries of our journeys. The story of Thomas is testimony that we are able to live out the words Jesus gives to his disciples for all time. The story of Thomas the Sunday after Easter Sunday, provides us with a blessing of a special kind providing an example of what being an Easter person of integrity and sensitivity in today’s world is often about.
