Opening Greeting
Pastor: Christ is risen! All: Indeed, He is risen! Hallelujah!
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Pastor: Lord, We find ourselves in the locked doors of ourselves just as the disciples were behind closed doors. We too are afraid, perhaps for a different reason than theirs.
All: But we too need the breath of the Holy Spirit to take away our fears, so that we can come out from behind these locked doors.
Pastor: Lord, we are like Thomas with our questions and our doubts. We sometimes need to see in order to believe, we need you in order to have faith.
All: Lord, we too need the peace you bring because our world is fraught with violence, war, and unrest.
Pastor: Lord, we thank you for the blessing you have given us, the ones who believe without seeing. Thank you for the Peace you shine upon us for us to be Peacemakers in the world.
All: Lord, may the doors of our churches be open to all: believers, doubters, seekers and questioners. Let your Peace be with us and in the world. Amen
Gospel and Sermon John 20.19-31
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 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.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.’
26 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.’ 27 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.’ 28 Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe[d] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
SERMON Peace, Peace, Peace.
We are in the afterglow of Easter. The Hallelujahs are still ringing in our ears and the message of hope is still lingering in our hearts.
Do not be afraid, easter morning said.
And the peace of the Lord may rest on us.
This story about Thomas is always read on the Sunday after Easter. And it one of the most prfound stories of faith as our doubt, our questions, our longings are reflected in Thomas. Today we are all Thomas. Today we are all the disciples locked behind closed doors afraid… to come out.
And yet Jesus comes not just once but 3 times, greeting his disciples with “Peace be with you.” Oh how we long to be greeted with this peace greeting in this time or ours.
First Jesus comes to the discipled gathered behind locked and closed doors because of fear… and doubt. After the glorious easter morning, doubt and fear has crept in and they hid in the house, the curtains drawn, the lights out, the doors not only closed but locked.
And yet Jesus could not be kept out. He came opening the doors, opening their hearts and giving them peace of mind and peace of heart.
Except Thomas who was left out. He was not there. And he refused to believe what he had not seen. He refused to believe without seeing, touching and putting his hands in the wounds.
So Jesus comes again. This time the doors are still closed but not locked. They knew that they could not keep Jesus out, - and he came to meet Thomas. He came for him alone. He came for you and me.
“Peace be with you!” he once again said, opening the room, unlocking the doors, breaking down the doubt in Thomas.
Thomas believed because he saw, heard and felt. And jesus says the words that are words for all of us, all the generations to come after the room of dispcles: Blessed are those who hae not seen and yet have come to believe.”
That is us. You and me.
Each time I read the Gospel, something new stands out. The living words of God keep speaking to us in various way.
When I read and reread the Gospel about Thomas and faith, - what struck me this time was the peace.
Peace be with you. Three times.
Peace be with you – a blessing and a hope spoken into our time of raging wars, endless conflicts, misunderstandnings and harsh words of hatred, war and inhumnatiy.
Peace be with you… as the Father has sent me, so I sent you, Jesus said.
So we are sent into the world as messengers of hope. As peacemakers. As beacons of light and peace. As protectors of the weak, the vulnerable and the lonely. As compassion in a world that truly needs compassion and prayers for peace.
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn was any more.”
Thus the old prophet Isaiah profecised about the dream of peace. Imagine, like a modern pofet Lennon sang.
Imagine all the people, living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
Peace be with you. Peace be with you to be peacemakers in the world.
As wars are raging in our world, as the fragile peace treaty between US, Israel and Iran gives us a breath of hope for peace.
Like many I was appalled and distressed about the ongoing war and conflict and even more the rhetoric from our leaders.
Defense Secretary uttering explicit Christian and violent wartime prayers at pentagon. Asking for divine guidance and overwhelming violence of action is a deeply troubling blend of faith and military policy. Waging a modern-day crusade and holy war is an unholy nightmare. Deeply unchristian.
The presidents’ threat to eliminate and destroy an entire civilization and country, is dangerous talk and war crime.
It might be claimed that is was just rhetoric to get a deal made…. But it is more than that. It is dangerous rhetoric to make the enemy unworthy of life, to justify cruelty, to pronounce that only we are right and they are wrong.
Like many I was touched and moved when the Pope spoke up saying that God doesn’t accept the prayers of leaders who wage was. This I our God, Jesus, Kong of Peace, who rejects war, who no one can use to justify war. He continued to say that Jesus does not listen to prayers of those who wage war but rejects them saying: Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.
And as a Lutheran I was touched when ELCA presiding bishop Curry issued statement on Iran War stating that the church of Jesus Christ is called to proclaim the peace of Gods eternal reign and to work or an earthly peace here and now. Earthly peace is a precious yet fragile good. Its existence depends on leaders who prioritize diplomacy over military engagement and deterrence over war.
So right now, we are behind closed doors of fear.
The people of Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the surrounding countries hide behind closed doors in fear of bombing and attacks.
The children of Palestine hide behind closed doors in fear.
The children of Ukraine hide behind closed doors in fear.
WE hide behind closed doors of fear of terrorism.
We come here to church to be met by the words of Peace be with you as we long, dream and pray for peace.
Peace be with you.
Frans Asisis prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.