April 27, 2003
Acts 4:32-35 + 1 John 5:1-6 + John 20:19-31
There is a dangerous way of hearing this Gospel story that would lead us to suspect that God favored a chosen few with an experience of the risen Christ, and the rest of us simply had to take it on their word. If that were the case, Thomas would just have had to make it on the word of the others. But notice that he is not left to believe that Christ is risen because of “here-say”. He believes it because he has his own experience of the Risen Christ
It is not a matter of touching – notice that he never does. It is a matter of seeing. What the Gospel story tells us is that Thomas, in spite of absence and in spite of doubt is able to join the others in saying: “We have seen the Lord.”
What I suspect is that before that day, Thomas was not looking. At least, he was not looking either in the right place, or was not looking for the Risen Christ. For that matter the others were not either, after all, they were sitting in a room with the doors locked. Thomas may well have been out the first time Christ appeared looking for the dead body of Christ. He may have been taking another look at the empty tomb. He may still have been looking the political Messiah who was going to set everything right. The point of the story is that Thomas has an experience of the Risen Christ. From what he says, he is looking for a dead Christ: no one who has all the scars of death. What he finds, what he sees is the Risen Christ.
It is Easter again in this place, my friends, not because the calendar says so or because Lent is over; but because there are some here who have seen the Lord, and some who are here because they want to see the Lord, and they are looking. It is always Easter when the risen Lord is among us It is always Easter when people who are one in mind, and heart, and faith look into each other’s eyes and share what they have: bread, wine, hope, joy, money, kindness, and forgiveness. It is always Easter when we see people who accept suffering with dignity and courage when we look upon the old and children, the most vulnerable among us, and stand together to protect them. It is always Easter when we recall how we have been forgiven, and rejoice in the times we have forgiven.
This world and our lives are charged with the glory of the resurrection. What we need are eyes to see the risen Lord in our midst and willing hearts to call Him by name. That gift is the Spirit. He sends us from the Father. When we have it, when we know it, when we use it, we will have seen the Lord.