So the story is that Jesus shows up in the room where the disciples are, only Thomas isn't there. After Jesus has left, enter Thomas stage left... and the others tell him Jesus was recently there. He of course doesn't believe it - he's the proverbial person from Missouri, "show me!" Well, in the story, Jesus returns once again, and this time shows Thomas his hands and side so Thomas can very much see this is the "real" Jesus. And it is at this point that Thomas believes. To which Jesus responds- "You believe because you have seen... blessed are those who do not see, but believe." I'm thinking the author is clearly trying to say... better to NOT doubt, but believe. The idea here: the "truer" faith seems to be an unquestioning faith. Okay, I get it... but I do want to say that sometimes, and in some people... doubt can lead to a deeper faith later! ...As it did with Thomas! So, let's not always knock doubting!!
Having said that... I want to look at the ideas and images of Easter: the images of New Life, and Resurrection. A few years back, in this season after Easter, here in church, we talked about these very themes, but as they played out in peoples lives. For example, one person spoke of their years in Liberia during the war, and how terrible that was. As the person spoke of this dark time in their lives and the life of the country, you could imagine the clouds of death hovering over them and all the other innocent people. The guarantee of life wasn't there!
In the moment- during that time- they had no idea if they would be able to make it out. They didn't know if they'd survive from day to day. They had no idea it if they'd be able to escape with their lives, much less any of their possession. And if they were able to leave, they had no idea what their new life would lead them to. Ye they came through that darkness, through the shadow of death! And here they are, not only alive... but alive and well! Resurrection!
Or the other story I remember from a few years back - someone spoke about the imminent ending of their career, their federal job would be ending and they would be officially retired. Sometimes the loss of a job like this can bring with it a loss of identity... "who am I now?" But this person looked at this as an opportunity to grow - to develop another aspect of their life, so they sought out training in a new field of study and work. The death of one career brought with it the opportunity of resurrection in another!
Stories of resurrection... we love to see this theme played out! We Americans love movies and stories that end well! That even in the midst of tragedy, ultimately things DO work out! We love this! In fact, we've come to expect this! We don't like movies or stories where things don't end well. They leave us with a discordant feeling - like a musical piece that ends in a minor key. it just isn't "right". I think it's not so much we like "good" endings (resurrections)... as much as we don't like sad/bad/dark endings.
Even in our lives, We WANT resurrection... we hope for it... we expect it!
As much as our hearts yearn for this type of ending... as much as we pray for it, the truth is those personal resurrections, those happy endings - those endings where the negative is ultimately wrapped in the blanket of goodness and positiveness... where the darkness of night gives way to the bright sun of the morning... doesn't always happen!
I believe there absolutely is resurrection in the next life! But we seem to think and believe there will always be the same in this life as well. I fear we sometimes believe this as a matter of faith - that that no matter what happens to us in this life, God will always "fix it"!
I bet you're thinking - "Boy, Pastor - you sure are a downer!" I have to tell you, it does feel weird perhaps a little saying this -"Hey folks, here's a reality check to life!" When I sit to prepare a sermon, I often ask myself - "What is the Gospel message here?" Basic idea- what is the Word of Hope here? Plus, we're Americans.. we expect HOPE!
Let's look at the Gospel story again - The disciples have locked themselves in a room. They are scared! they have no idea what to do next. Their leader has died- he's not here anymore! He's gone! It's over! Now, we know how this story ends, but for them... right where they are then... what they DO think they know is things are over!
When someone we love dies... it feels like the world has ended. or at least your portion of it. When people are struggling with addictions, and they can see their world crumbling slowly, cracking and fraying, they get scared! The get scared that this monster will destroy their whole lives, and them destroy them!
In many other ways, we can face literal or metaphoric death, and hope and pray for resurrection of some kind. In situations like I described, can people experience resurrection? New Life? Absolutely! Many people have! In spite of the pain and loss... the dark night does end, and morning does come! But in this life it is never guaranteed though. Sadly I know too many stories of people who died under the shadow of this demon - too many stories of lives being absolutely devastated by this. Ira Hayes was one of six Marines who helped raise the famous flag over Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. he survived the war, but struggled to shake off the experiences of war. He spent many years struggling with alcohol problems, and ended up dying face-down in a puddle in a ditch off the side of the road in Sacatoon, AZ, dead of alcohol poisoning and exposure... he was just 32. His life, and the sad ending to it was made more known through the song, "The Ballad Of Ira Hayes".
There are many more people like Ira Hayes, people who succumbed to their demons. People for whom resurrection was not a reality in this life.
We live in the HOPE of resurrection! Sometimes resurrection come easily and naturally. Sometimes it comes as a surprise, unexpectedly. Sometimes it comes as something worked for... hard fought... sometimes people claw their way to resurrection on their hands and knees. Sometimes people live on the razor's edge of life and death, of hope and despair... from moment to moment not knowing what the next moment will bring.
Sometimes things don't work out as we want. Sometimes things don't work out as we'd prayed for... as we'd begged for! And we ask, "Where are you God!"
But I do believe, if we're open - open to letting the presence of God into our hurt and pain, and resentment, if we can allow some light to wedge under our disillusionment, and fear, and distrust, and anger and despair, and whatever else is keeping us God out... and life out... If we can open up just a little... I DO believe God can enter in and help us move forward towards resurrection in the here and now.
I'd love to believe every story of pain ends in light! But that's not always the case. When I was doing my clinical chaplaincy experience - in a nursing home setting. Often as I would come in in the mornings, the nurses or assistants had already moved some of the non-ambulatory elderly people in their wheel chairs along the wall in preparation to get them into the dinning room for breakfast. As I walked in one morning, I saw one of the elderly ladies in her wheelchair sobbing. I bent down to ask her what was wrong. She said, "I want to die." Life, for her, had become painful, it had become something to be endured. The joys were gone.
I wasn't sure what to say or do, fearing that, in wanting to really recognize the pain, any words might come out as trite, or insincere, or superficial. So I just remained there with her as she cried. I thought that moment may not have been the right time for words yet. The lady next to her, intending to be helpful, shared some words she thought would bring some comfort... "Just vie it to Jesus." I'll never forget those words. They were intended to be comforting... and maybe they were ultimately... but in the moment, I can recognize they came very close (for me) to Christian Magic. I think she tried to help her friend's pain go away by getting her to "give it to Jesus". But sometimes the pain can be too great to be gone so readily. Sometimes this takes time - sometimes a lot of time - to work through our systems. And giving it to Jesus can be an on-going process that can take days, months or even years.
On that morning, as much as her friend may have wanted those words to heal... they were not a cure-all. And I'd be doing everyone a dis-service if I taught that all one has to do when we hit some of the bumps or cliffs of life, is to say, "just give it to Jesus"... preparing for a quick and easy resurrection.
But in spite of there being no guarantee... that that we will let go of our guilt or fear or anger... of all those things that can crush and kill a human spirit... I believe there's always the HOPE we can reach a resurrection in this life! I believe God's desire is that we reach out... in hope. I believe with God's help... we can reach out, and work through that which we need to work through as best we can... whatever that means - however that means!
I don'e believe there are any guarantees that being a Christian protects us from harm or danger or the harshness of life! Things will not always turn out as we want. You know it , and I know it... this guarantee doesn't exist. And it would not be fair or just if I said otherwise. But I do believe God can be present with us no matter what happens. I do believe in the HOPE of resurrection!
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