2nd Sunday of Easter – Byron Tindall
The reading for today from John’s Gospel takes place on the evening of that first Easter. John doesn’t say who all was there, just that Thomas wasn’t with them. The term “disciples” includes followers other than just the 11 or 10 without Thomas.
Regardless of the number of disciples present, I would love to have been the proverbial fly on the wall in order to eavesdrop on the conversation. I can just hear it now.
“What happened?” What’s going on?” “I heard some of the women said they’ve seen Him.” “I’m scared!” “It can’t be true that He isn’t dead, can it?” “I’m confused.” “Peter and the one Jesus loved saw the empty tomb.” I just wish John had recorded at least a little bit of the discussion.
At any rate, John wrote that Jesus suddenly, without fanfare, appeared in the midst of them. After giving His peace to them, Jesus gave them their marching orders and then he showed them his hands and his feet. He then bestows the Holy Spirit on them.
At this point, we need to ask the question, “Is this John’s version of the Christian Pentecost?” It is vastly different from Luke’s account as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The Day of Pentecost was the Greek term for the Jewish Feast of Weeks, so named because it fell on the 50th day following the ceremony of the barley sheaf during the Passover celebration.
Maybe, just maybe, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to individuals at various times. I think that is the way She acts. This has been going on throughout history. The gift wasn’t given just once to the disciples. Think about what is said at Baptisms and Ordinations. In one of the petitions in the Prayers for the Candidates at Baptism, and leader prays, “Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.” During the service of Ordination, the bishop lays hands on the ordinand’s head and prays, “Therefore, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, give your Holy Spirit to….”
Could it possibly be that all of us experience “mini” Pentecosts throughout our lives? I happen to think that we do.
The next portion of the lesson from John is one of the most debated statements in the New Testament. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them….” Those who are not comfortable with this say that only God can forgive sins. A close look at the prayer in the Ash Wednesday liturgy sheds a little light on the subject.
“Almighty God…has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins….” It’s not the bishop or priest who forgives the sin. The minister is assuring the penitent of God’s forgiveness. The minister has the right to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit received at ordination.
We have now arrived at the point in John’s narrative that really resonates with me, the report of Doubting Thomas. I can relate to Thomas wanting further proof that Christ had risen. He got his proof a week later. I, for one, would like to know what transpired during the time between the gatherings in the house. Oh well, St. John apparently didn’t think it was important enough to record, so I’ll never know in this life at least.
When Jesus appeared again to the assembled disciples, Thomas was present this time. After sharing His peace with them, Jesus tells Thomas to feel his wounds. Jesus told Thomas, “Do not doubt but believe.” St. John does not say whether or not Thomas actually touched Jesus. It doesn’t make any difference. Thomas’s exclamation says it all. “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus then said to Thomas, not the entire gathering, according to St. John, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
To whom was Jesus referring when He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe?
John concludes this portion of his Gospel with some very reassuring statements.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in the 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.”
To whom did St. John direct his statement, “…these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah….”
I think that both Jesus and St. John were referring to all the saints throughout all generations down through the ages culminating with you and me.
And if that is so, when say we believe, we are to live our lives following the One who died and rose again for us.
At the conclusion of the lessons, our lectors say, “Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.” We have to ask ourselves, “What is the Spirit saying to me?” “Where is He sending me?”
Just as He sent forth his disciples, He sends us out to show God’s love for his creation. Our lives are to show the world what we believe.
Alleluia, Christ has risen.