Reading: Acts 5:12-29;
John 20:19-31 Easter 2C
April 17, 2004
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
"These things 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." [Jn.20:31]
The most important thing to remember about the gospel of John and Christianity in general is this: They exist so that we may have life and have it abundantly. No matter what your specific beliefs, doubts, or understanding about Christianity or the resurrection may be, if you have life and have it abundantly [in accordance with the spirit of Christ], then you can sure that you are on the right path. Abundant life is the true litmus test of Christian faith. Faith is not an intellectual assent to a list of doctrines. Faith is a posture of openness of the heart, mind, body, and soul towards God in Christ. When we walk in this world with openness to God, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, self-control fill our lives with abundance! Today, I would like to explore the issues of faith and doubt in the life of a Christian. I will use the gospel as my text.
*The resurrection can be better understood through the metaphor of the sun. We can not look directly at the sun, for the brightness would blind us. Our eyes are not suited to that strength of light. Yet the sun, which we can not look at directly, illuminates all else. And in its light, we make our way in the world. Likewise, we cannot look directly at the resurrection, because it is not given for us to see. Yet the resurrection, illuminates the entire landscape of our Christian heritage. {*M. Suchocki}
Because we cannot look directly at the resurrection, it often becomes a stumbling block for Christians. There is no description of the actual resurrection in the entire Bible; only a report of an empty tomb. What actually happened? Did the resurrection occur on the evening that Jesus was crucified and buried? Did it occur on the Saturday? Or did the resurrection occur on that first Easter morning? We do not know. What we do know is this: Following his death, Jesus revealed himself to his closest disciples. Although he appeared in a different form, his presence was so strong that it empowered his disciples to move from a place of fear to a place of confidence. Filled with confidence, they went out and passionately spread the message of Christ even at risk to their own lives.
Because we cannot look directly at the resurrection, our Lectionary assigns the story about doubting Thomas to be read on the Sunday right after Easter. Thomas makes a case for doubt in the life of the believer. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; cynicism or apathy is. Doubt is part and parcel of the life of a thinking Christian. To doubt and yet to keep an openness of the heart, mind, soul, and body towards God in Christ, is what the faith journey is all about. Remember, abundant life (not absence of doubt) is the litmus test for Christian faith. Actually, Thomas gets a bad name as being the only apostle who doubted in the resurrection. According the gospel of Luke, all of the apostles doubted the resurrection. Luke tells us, that after the women returned from the empty tomb on that first Easter morning and told the apostles that Jesus had risen, they didn't believe them. They thought it was just an idle tale told by silly old women. It was only when Jesus personally appeared to them (in a different form of course), that they were able to say, "Jesus lives."
Jesus lives, not because he can walk through locked doors, or because he showed his wounds to frighten disciples, or because we can intellectually sort out the specific details of the resurrection. Jesus lives because he breathed new life into those disciples and continues to breathe new life in those who are committed to his path of compassion and truth. Too often, we get stuck in the historical details of the resurrection and fail to see the living Christ all around us. And thus, we fail to experience the possibility of new life.
There is a current (but different) litmus test among some evangelical circles that says if a person does not fully understand and have a correct dogmatic interpretation of the resurrection, then he or she can not claim to be "a real Christian." I find this litmus test to be arrogant, exclusive, and not in accordance with biblical precedence. Not only did Thomas (a trusted apostle) need to see the resurrected Christ with his own eyes in order to believe, but he also demanded to place his fingers in the actual wounds. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." [Jn. 20]
Another litmus test in many Christian circles is that one must denounce abortion rights and gay rights in order to be "a real Christian." In my opinion, this is a rather shallow understanding of a life of faith. None of the gospels records Jesus speaking about abortion or homosexuality. However, he did speak at length about inclusivity, forgiveness, generosity, striving for peace and justice, and respecting the dignity of every human being. Whenever we reach out and heal the sick, Jesus lives. Whenever we feed the poor, tend to the marginalized, and strive for peace, Jesus lives. Whenever we challenge aggression in the world or prejudice in society, Jesus lives. Is it possible to believe in the resurrection without seeing? To believe in the resurrection is to have the conviction that the powers of darkness and destruction can not and will not have the final word. To believe in the resurrection is to lead a life guided by compassion, shaped by joy, grounded in peace, filled with hope, and expressed in generosity. In other words, to believe in the resurrection is to live life abundantly.
Alleluia, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
| Updated 04/17/2004 |
|