Above, you'll find the audio (only) of my homily for Sunday, April 12. Here's a link to the gospel I preached on and below you'll find the text of my homily. (If a widget doesn't appear, click here!)
Doubting Thomas...
We just heard the story. We heard Thomas’ own words. But these aren't the only words Thomas speaks in the scriptures.
• When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus had died - and suggested to his disciples that they go back to Bethany where Lazarus had lived - the disciples reminded Jesus that they’d been there recently and the local religious leaders had threatened to kill him. Jesus says, "No, we need to go– for the glory of God. And Thomas speaks:
“We’ll go with you, Lord – and we’ll die with you.”
That’s not doubting Thomas – that’s FAITHFUL, BOLD, COURAGEOUS Thomas.
• And later in the gospel, at the last supper - on the night before he died - Jesus told his friends, “I’m about to leave you but I’m going to prepare a place for you in my Father’s house.
And don’t worry - you know how to get there.” But Thomas speaks up and says,
“Lord, we don’t know where you’re going
That’s not doubting Thomas – that’s FAITHFUL, BOLD, COURAGEOUS Thomas.
• And later in the gospel, at the last supper - on the night before he died - Jesus told his friends, “I’m about to leave you but I’m going to prepare a place for you in my Father’s house.
And don’t worry - you know how to get there.” But Thomas speaks up and says,
“Lord, we don’t know where you’re going
- how can we know the way?"
That’s not doubting Thomas – that’s LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, RATIONAL, PRAGMATIC Thomas.
• It’s only after the crucifixion and burial of the Jesus when Thomas first hears the report that Jesus has risen from the dead that he says:
That’s not doubting Thomas – that’s LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, RATIONAL, PRAGMATIC Thomas.
• It’s only after the crucifixion and burial of the Jesus when Thomas first hears the report that Jesus has risen from the dead that he says:
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nail-marks
and put my hand into his side - I will not believe.”
Now, THAT’S “Doubting Thomas”
Now, THAT’S “Doubting Thomas”
– OR –
is that levelheaded Thomas? reasonably skeptical Thomas? scientific method Thomas? I’m-not-a-religious-fanatic Thomas?
Well, in tonight's gospel it’s just a week later, when the risen Jesus appears to his friends again and he says to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas speaks, now for the fourth time in the gospel, and he says:
Well, in tonight's gospel it’s just a week later, when the risen Jesus appears to his friends again and he says to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas speaks, now for the fourth time in the gospel, and he says:
"My Lord and my God!"
We should take note of two things here.
First, it’s JESUS who approaches THOMAS and invites him to believe. It’s Jesus who takes the initiative.
And second - if we read and listen carefully - we see that Thomas DOESN’T put his finger into the nail-marks in Jesus’ hands and he DOESN’T put his hand into Jesus’ side. Thomas simply makes a simple confession of his faith: “My Lord and my God!”
We should take note of two things here.
First, it’s JESUS who approaches THOMAS and invites him to believe. It’s Jesus who takes the initiative.
And second - if we read and listen carefully - we see that Thomas DOESN’T put his finger into the nail-marks in Jesus’ hands and he DOESN’T put his hand into Jesus’ side. Thomas simply makes a simple confession of his faith: “My Lord and my God!”
That same risen Jesus knows us, knows you and me, very well. He knows that while we are sometimes, like Thomas, FAITHFUL, BOLD and COURAGEOUS - we are likely, more often, LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, RATIONAL, SCIENCE INFLUENCED, REASONABLY SKEPTICAL, PRAGMATIC -
- followers of Jesus -
who don’t want to appear to be too SPIRITUAL, or RELIGIOUS, or HOLY or RADICAL in our faith.
But here’s the thing…
We believe, or at least we SAY we believe, that a little over 2,000 years ago, God spoke a word - so powerfully - that his Word became flesh - in a young woman’s womb... that she gave birth to her Child who was -and is- JESUS, the Son of God... that Jesus, Mary's son, preached a message of mercy, forgiveness and peace... that he was arrested by religious and government leaders, tortured and put to death by crucifixion - and that a few days later - HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD - and lives now at the right hand of God - and right here among us – in the presence and power of Spirit.
See, the thing is… we have to be at least a little FAITHFUL, BOLD, COURAGEOUS, SPIRITUAL, RELIGIOUS, HOLY -and- RADICAL - to believe all that.
That’s why Jesus comes to this “upper room” tonight - in the face of all our LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, RATIONAL, SCIENCE INFLUENCED, REASONABLY SKEPTICAL, PRAGMATIC ways - Jesus invites us to reach out and TOUCH him, to FIND him, and to KNOW him: in our prayer, in the scriptures we hear, in the Holy Spirit, in one another, and in the Bread and Cup of Communion at his table.
In all these ways, in heart of everyone here tonight, the Risen Jesus says: “Do not be unbelieving, but believe....” And he waits to hear each of us respond, as did Thomas: “My Lord and my God.”
That’s why Jesus comes to this “upper room” tonight - in the face of all our LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, RATIONAL, SCIENCE INFLUENCED, REASONABLY SKEPTICAL, PRAGMATIC ways - Jesus invites us to reach out and TOUCH him, to FIND him, and to KNOW him: in our prayer, in the scriptures we hear, in the Holy Spirit, in one another, and in the Bread and Cup of Communion at his table.
In all these ways, in heart of everyone here tonight, the Risen Jesus says: “Do not be unbelieving, but believe....” And he waits to hear each of us respond, as did Thomas: “My Lord and my God.”
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