Easter 2, April 19, 2009

John 20:19-31

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.” v.25

If Thomas could just touch the wounds of Christ, he would believe.  It’s not so much that Thomas wanted some physical, tangible proof of a bodily resurrection, he wanted to touch the wounds, because if we know anything with certainty, it’s the wounds that we all collect, it’s the scars we come to wear.
Thomas didn’t say, “Unless I see His halo”.  He wanted to see the wounds.  The doubting Thomases of the world who hear our proclamation that Jesus is risen want proof that we wear the marks of suffering on behalf of others.  They don’t want to see our halo, that’s not a mark of the Church; they don’t necessarily want to see pews filled to capacity, nor endowment fund portfolios.

They say, “If you are the Body of Christ, show me the marks of your wounds”.
● Show me how you have suffered for the sake of others, like those afraid to walk their neighborhood streets at night, and those parents who are afraid to allow their children to play outside because of stray bullets from drug dealers.
● Show me how you’ve gotten your hands dirty and covered with callouses working with unemployed coal miners in Appalachia.
● Show me the marks of compassion because you’ve been there for someone suffering with AIDS or Alzheimer’s.

The apostle Thomas identified Jesus after He had risen not by His glorified presence, but rather by the marks of His suffering.  That’s the authentication Thomas sought.  And he comes to us and says, “Unless I thrust my hand into the Church & find real wounds, no way will I ever believe”.  Unless we carry the wounds of Christ, unless we have become, in Henri Nouwen’s phrase, “wounded healers,”  because we have extended our love and compassion, we cannot say that we are the Body of Christ in the world with any ring of truth to the claim.
“If you are the Body of Christ, show me the marks of your wounds”.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

Mark 16:1-8

della Francesca, "Resurrection," Sansepolcro Museo Civico

The story is told of Carlyle Marney when once addressing a group of college students was asked to say something about the resurrection.
“I can’t discuss that with people like you,” he responded.  “Why not?” came the reply.  “I don’t discuss such matters with anyone under the age of thirty”.  Taken aback and somewhat offended, came the obvious question, “Why not?”
“Look at you,” Marney said, “prime of life, full of potential, never have you known honest to God failure, heartbreak, solid defeat, brick walls or mortality.  So what in God’s name can you know of a dark world which only makes sense if Christ is raised?”

Those who are well-fed, well-healed, well-housed, well-futured; those who have never known Good Friday worlds, no matter what their age, will ever really be able to fully begin to understand the victory and the joy of Resurrection Day.

The joy of the Resurrection is no superficial joy.  It has little to do with broad, innocent grins; or of the blythfulness of unwrinkled faces.  The depth of Resurrection joy is seen on faces whose lines of anguish have been turned into laughter lines.

Only those who have experienced Good Fridays, dark nights, and immoveable obstacles, will be able to understand.  Only those who have sung dirges will be able to sing Alleluia.

However, make no mistake.  Entering our tombs, exploring the emptiness that we there find, touching the pain that we attempt to keep sealed up, hiding the bruises and scars of our Good Friday worlds, is not the Easter message.  At best, it is only the beginning of a catharsis.  It is an invitation.

Nevertheless, it is only after we have entered the tombs & sealed places of life, that we will be able to hear the Easter proclamation in all of its fullness, “He has risen, he is not here”. He has conquered death; the dominion of evil has been broken; the just and righteous will be vindicated; and the empty places will be filled to overflowing!