In Sunday’s gospel text (John 20:19-31), while the disciples are locked up in a room, afraid, grieving, and immobilized by what has happened – the arrest, crucifixion, and death of Jesus – the Risen Christ appears, brings a word of peace, inspires the disciples with the Holy Spirit (literally breathes it into them), and sends them out.
But Thomas wasn’t there. He was not in the locked room. And thus, understandably so, Thomas wants to see and touch the Risen Christ. He is not ready to go out and continue the work of God in Christ, sharing the good news of the kingdom of God come near and of abundant life and steadfast love.
As Pastor Brad Fuerst, our visiting preacher from LuMin Austin said, “We all have our ‘unless’s’.” Unless we experience the presence of God, unless we receive the peace of the risen Christ, unless the Holy Spirit is breathed into us, unless we have something we can put our hands on…
Siblings in Christ, each week we experience Christ in ways we can touch, taste, see, hear – in bread and wine, water, word spoken and sung. And as we do, we are re-member-ed (put back together) and re-formed into the body of Christ. We, who have inspired (breathed in) the Holy Spirit are sent to share God’s love in ways that are seen and felt.
We become the body of the risen Christ and join in proclaiming the good news in word and deed, in ways that people can put their hands on.
- As the image below reminds us, we sent 55 handbags and more than 250 clothing items that shared God’s love
- When you show up to support a friend, offer a hug, or lend an active listening ear, that’s good news (gospel) people can see and feel
- Visiting the prisoner through Kairos ministry in person and through cookies and placemats and prayer chains
- Providing food to people who are hungry through Helping Hands
The risen Christ emboldened and empowered the disciples to live out this new life. That same Christ, risen and alive, is with us now, emboldening and empowering us to reflect the life-giving love of God in Christ.
And no locked doors, no fear, no worry, no action or inaction on our part, none of our “unless’s” will keep the risen Christ from showing up, proclaiming peace, showering us with the Holy Spirit, and sending us out again and again.
God, who has brought you again to new life, sustain you in love to live the good news of resurrection.
Pastor Drew