1 Sunday, April 15, 2012 2nd Sunday of Easter Pastor Dena Williams John 20:19-31 The Holy Gospel

according to the Community of St. John in the 20th Chapter Glory to you, O Lord When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." Well, a week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Have you believed because you have seen me?

2 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this 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. The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ Nearly Missed a Shootin Star Remember our Easter story from Marks Gospel last Sunday? Mark left us with some frightened women. They told no one anything. They were afraid for . . . The three women come to the tomb early Sunday morning. The young man tells them that Jesus has risen. They flee and tell no one the good news. They are afraid. While looking at their feet, at a crack in the sidewalk, an old tin can by the side of the road, they nearly missed a rainbow, they nearly missed a sunset, they nearly missed a shootin star goin by. So ends Marks story of the resurrection. with a near miss. The Gospel writer of John tells us another story today, a story of what happened in the evening, on that first Easter Sunday. Many friends of Jesus, not just the eleven or the twelve, but many friends, men and women, young and old have gathered together in a house in Galilee. The authorities at the temple in Jerusalem, the ones who collaborate with the Romans,

3 are determined that this Jesus cult will end. They see those Jesus believers as a threat to temple power and authority. So the friends of Jesus lock the door to the house where they have gathered. They are afraid. While studying a brand new hole in their sneakers, Finding a quarter and an old bus token. They nearly miss a rainbow, they nearly miss a sunset, they nearly miss a shootin star goin by. They nearly miss a risen Jesus. Then he comes and stands among them and says, Peace be with you. It is not until they see his scars that they believe. Looking down at the ground means they know where theyre going, no head-up-in-the-clouds to lead them astray, but they cant ever have any kind of dream that way. They nearly miss a rainbow, they nearly miss a sunset, they nearly miss a shootin star goin by. They nearly miss the Savior of the world. It is not until Jesus shows his friends the scars in his hands and side that they rejoice. A week later Thomas is with the rest of Jesus friends when he comes among them again. Notice that he asks for no more proof than the rest of them, asks only to see the scars, but someone throughout history he has earned the a reputation and a nickname, doubting Thomas. Wonder why? Maybe because Jesus friends,

4 then and now, need a scape goat someone to scold for their lack of faith. Hmm . . . When Thomas sees the scars, those same scars, he cries out, My Lord and my God! Jennifer is a middle school student, a 7th grader. She is cute and smart, lovable and capable. Her only goal this year is to be cool. Theres a group of girls at her school who are soooo cool. They have the right clothes and latest shoes. They wear make up and have boy friends. They play sports and get invited to all the right birthday parties. Their parents let them go out on dates and talk on the phone to boys. Some of them even smoke cigarettes and they say they drink beer. Jennifer so wants to be cool. She tries to convince her parents and herself that if she wears the right clothes, plays sports, wears make up and is allowed to date, her life will be perfect. Fortunately for Jennifer, although she doesnt know it yet, her parents just dont buy it. Jennifer really doesnt buy it either, but she so wants to be cool. The cool girls have noticed her ambition and they arent interested. Jennifer just wont fit in with their group, you see, because she is a good student who puts her school work first. Shes also honest and open. There is a goodness about her that keeps her from criticizing others, a compassion that does not allow her to make fun of others, or laugh at other peoples shortcomings.

5 Jennifer will never be cool. Shes too kind and responsible. She will never be cool. She knows that and at some level shes glad. The problem is that she, like all of us, needs friends. Shes been studying the cool girls for months now, spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to be herself and also be cool. In the lunchroom there is another group of girls who always sit together. They are a lot like Jennifer. They have parents who care about them and, although, they are neat and clean and have some new stuff, they dont always have the latest sneakers. They go to each others birthday parties. They go to the movies together and sometimes they even hang out with their younger brothers and sisters. They do their homework and help around the house. Once one of the dads even took them all camping in tents together. Most of these girls go to church and they do volunteer stuff there. They go to church camp in the summer and confirmation class in the winter. Jennifer has a hard time noticing these girls until about January of 7th grade. One day, theres no place else to sit and she ends up at their table. She has a really good time at lunch that day . . . She nearly missed a rainbow, she nearly missed a sunset, she nearly missed a shootin star goin by. Passing her by Going right by. A sermon for the children, we are thinking. Well, maybe.

6 How often do we, as adults, keep our focus on all that is wrong in our lives? Oh, well, uhh, hmm . . . We, like the Marks women at the tomb, like Johns friends of Jesus, are afraid. We are afraid of losing our jobs, losing our spouses or friends or health, afraid of our loneliness, afraid for our children, afraid of the future, afraid of the past. We are afraid, we look down, focus on our fear, and we miss the rainbow, the sunset, the shootin star. There is good news for us and for our children. Even on the days when we are very afraid, as afraid as the friends of Jesus after he has been crucified, when they know their lives are in danger, even on the days when we are that afraid, so afraid that we cant look up, so afraid we cant seem to ask for help, so afraid we cant find words to pray, so afraid . . . the rainbow still shines, the sun still rises and sets, stars still streak across the sky. Even on the days when we are too afraid to look up, God is still present with us, forever and ever. Amen