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Good Morning
I would like to begin with a brief prayer:
“O God, open our hearts to your word, a word that passes swiftly and faithfully from the ear to our hearts and from our hearts to our life”. Amen
In our gospel reading today, the evangelist John spoke about the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples following his death and resurrection. And the fact that Thomas was not present.
In reading and thinking about this gospel, it is the story of Thomas that has preoccupied my thoughts and shaped my reflections for this morning.
Over the next several minutes, I would like to spend some time talking about our spiritual journey and how disbelief can be overcome by the Christian faith.
I will stand in the Apostle Thomas’ shoes and speculate what he would say if he appeared and spoke to us in this sacred space this very morning.
I am then going to close by quoting some lyrics from a modern hymn which sums up today’s gospel and reflections - making for a powerful prayer.
But I am going to begin by taking us on a short detour to talk about baseball.
Why baseball?
Even though it is hard to imagine when we look out the window - springtime HAS arrived – and - the boys of summer are back. The Blue Jays are off to a strong start and baseball fans have a brand new season to look forward to.
But it is really because I read an article in which someone claimed Baseball to be God’s favourite game – and – I was curious.
So indulge me for just a few minutes.
It was claimed in this article that Baseball is God’s favourite game because ..
It boasts it’s historical Cathedrals: Ball parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field.
It has Saints.
One is Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankee’s first base man who in 1939 was diagnosed with the debilitating disease ALS. At a honourary event in his name, he made a speech from Yankee Stadium in which he is quoted as saying:
“Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
What an inspiration! He was counting his many blessings and not dwelling on fear or what his future held in store for him.
Another saint is Jackie Robinson, a second baseman for The Brooklyn Dodgers who in 1947 was the first African-American allowed to play in the major leagues. He would endure racial taunts and slurs throughout his entire career. His greatness was not just as a baseball player. It was also in his determination and courage to rise above racial discrimination and in doing so pave the way for others to follow.
Baseball also has sinners…
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson, the outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, who is claimed to have taken a bribe to fix the 1919 World Series.
More recently…..
Pete Rose who admitted to gambling and even placing bets on his own team – the Cincinnati Reds - when he was a roster player and later the manager.
And of course we cannot forget Barry Bonds the San Francisco Giant who broke Hank Arron’s home run record but whose accomplishments were over-shadowed by the use of performance enhancing drugs.
I have shared with you this fanciful concept of baseball being God’s game because I was struck by the analogies to religious imagery. cathedrals, saints, sinners, and, I could have gone on longer.
Fanciful as this may have seemed, I do think that baseball could very well be God’s favourite game for 2 powerful reasons:
- The game is filled with unending hopefulness.
There is always another inning to play, another game to win, another season to look forward to.
- And because the whole point of the game is to finish where you begin - Home Plate. And once you are home you are finally safe.
For me, these were highly descriptive metaphors for our spiritual journey here on earth: the second chances Jesus’ death and resurrection give us each Easter – and - and the hope of arriving safely at home to spend eternal Life with God.
And when we reflect on our spiritual journey and our Christian faith, I see the apostle Thomas as having played a critical role.
We know from our reading this morning that Thomas was experiencing disbelief, doubt and suspicion about the news that Jesus had risen. Thomas’s words express what many of us feel from time to time. We can identify and sympathize with Thomas. After all, Jesus had been his friend. His friend had been horribly crucified only three days earlier by the Roman soldiers. Thomas was grieving and the unbelievable news he received from his fellow disciples overwhelmed him.
I rather like Thomas. He is very likeable guy and he is not overly saintly at this point in time anyway (that comes later in his life). He is human and real.
I can share with you that just like Thomas, there are times when I am feeling doubtful and facing skepticism in my faith.
I too on occasion, can be called a Doubting Thomas. Perhaps more aptly a Doubting Kimbo.
I do want to accept that God created the heavens and the earth. Believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus. Learn from the teachings and lessons found in scripture. Fully appreciate the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And Trust in the promise of the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
But sometimes I lose focus with the constant bombardment of voices and noise from the outside world which sows doubt and disbelief in just about everything. And while I try to block it out, it can be easy to be cynical, mistrustful and have doubts.
Quite frankly, it can be overwhelming.
But I have realized these moments can be overcome by the power of my Christian Faith. I have learned to draw strength and hope from Jesus’ words to Thomas. “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
Jesus doesn’t have to make an appearance to show me his wounds. Thomas took the hit….did this for me...for all of us…so that we can believe.
Along the spiritual journey of my life, I know that Jesus reveals himself to me. Has answered many of my prayers, not in any miraculous way, but in ways that I am assured he is with me. I can find Jesus in my every day walk through life. It only takes, a sunny day and starry night to feel his presence and appreciate all the blessings and good fortunes God has bestowed upon me.
Yes there have been trials and tribulations. But it is comforting to know that I believe Jesus is walking this journey with me and is pointing me towards what matters.
When Jesus again appeared to the disciples, 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.”
This is more of a story about faith – and - less about touching Jesus’ wounds. It is about hope, belief and optimism and that Thomas paved the way for us to overcome any doubt or disbelief. Thomas personifies the struggle that we all experience from time to time in our spiritual journey.
I am truly thankful for Thomas’ difficult and conflicted experience 2,000 years ago. That he did witness Jesus’ resurrection. That because of Thomas, I – all of us - can now proclaim “My Lord and My God”.
The Apostle Thomas is not Doubting Thomas – he is Saint Thomas.
According to historical records, he took the gospel and the messages of Jesus to India. As one of the first missionaries of the early Church, he performed miracles, witnessed to the Indian people and suffered a martyr’s death. He is buried in the Tomb of St. Thomas in Mylapore, India.
Pause
I wonder if Thomas were here today, what would he would say to us?
Possibly, he would greet us the same way that Jesus greeted him.
“Peace be with you”
He might say “Sometimes it seems that life isn’t fair”.
That it wasn’t fair he wasn’t in the room when Jesus first appeared to the disciples and that he was forced to face his disbelief.
I also think Thomas would encourage us to keep seeking truth – as he did - because having faith does not mean there will be an absence of disbelief. In fact, the faith experience is enhanced and strengthened when we seek, question and are tested.
I think he would tell us that we need not worry. That Jesus has truly risen from the dead and that He reveals himself on sunny days and starry nights.
And, that we are the luckiest people on the face of the earth because we have been blessed with our Christian Faith.
I think Thomas would give encouragement for our spiritual journey by urging us to:
- Never give up hope
- Place our trust in God
- Let our hearts and minds be open to God’s plan for us
- Listen to those who carry the message
- Give thanks for second chances
And
- Simply believe
I also think he would not rest until we all made it Home safely where he will greet us with “Peace be with you”.
In closing, there is a verse from a modern hymn called “Holy Spirit written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend that sums up today’s reflections. And, I would like this to be our prayer…
Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into our willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew our hearts and make us whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in us;
Give us faith for what we cannot see.
Give us passion for your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in us.
And that is my reflection on the second Sunday of Easter. Amen
Trinity Anglican Church, Durham ON.
Sunday April 8, 2018