My Lord and My God

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. 

The words from revelation help reveal the mystery of God, with thanksgiving we give thanks to the Lord, “For you have answered me and you have become my salvation.” 

Our gospel reading for this day is from John. 

It tells the story of one of the first gatherings of the disciples, after Jesus’ resurrection. 

I’m sure there were many different levels of understanding and countless unanswered questions. 

Questions of, “What next?” fuelled by fear of the unknown. 

A deep fear that is unlocked when our world is shaken with intense uncertainty. Imagine having to meet in private and lock the doors to keep out what we feared. Thankfully, courageously, Jesus meets us in that place, our place of fear. 

Imagine the bond the disciples had with each other and Jesus; a bond that would be tested, stretched, pulled, and found to be elastic, steadfast. 

Open your heart to Jesus, with bold faith that goes beyond our five senses; taste, touch, smell, sound, and especially sight. 

Jesus’ resurrection is extra sensory, beyond what we think we know. How can we possibly turn our fears and tears into shouts of rejoicing? 

Then Jesus shows up, as the Risen Lord, fulfilling his promise to God, to his disciples, and to each one of us. 

Jesus comes and stands amongst us saying, “Peace be with you.”

I wonder if any of you felt anything like the disciples did when Zion Lutheran Church burned to the ground? Or some tragedy rocked your world? 

A profound sense of loss, fear, wondering what was going to happen next. 

Even before that some difficult decisions were made on the direction this church would go; one that essentially divided the congregation. 

What would it mean to accept something that maybe didn’t make sense, was not one of “our” problems, but the ELCA was committed to ordaining individuals who loved another person. 

Rather than walk away, many of you walked in and unlocked the door to love. Jesus’ mandate to love one another sounds like this. 

The words of peace and love suddenly came with a choice, much like they still do to this day, the same choice Thomas felt. 

Thomas felt left out of Jesus’ first appearance and wanted proof. Let’s put ourselves in Thomas’ sandals for a bit. 

John writes that the other disciples tell Thomas, “We have seen the Lord, and I’m sure the part of receiving the Holy Spirit. 

Thomas was not there to hear Jesus say, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 

Thomas wanted to believe, but it had to be on his terms, unless I see specific proof, “I will not believe.” 

I can identify with Thomas’ need for proof, similar to, “Look before you leap!” Jesus asks us to love, with an invitation to peace and a step to the other. Faith that comes from my heart when my senses are calm.

Thomas needed to see the pierced hands of Jesus, where the nails pulled life away from him on the cross. 

To see the side of Jesus pierced, to see death, that was belief to him. A week later Jesus finds them all together, including Thomas. The doors were shut and there Jesus stood among them, “Peace be with you.” Jesus presents himself to Thomas, asking him to seek his proof, to believe. We only hear Thomas’ reaction, “My Lord and my God!” 

Here is where I hear my call from Jesus, “Have you believed because you have seen me? 

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 

Baptism River Community Church is blessed to believe, to offer peace and take action with a vision that includes the past, present and future. 

We are here today because of faith that God is with us, even at our lowest points; for that matter when the church burned to the ground. 

For many, that might have seemed like the end of the church, a test to their faith. 

Christ is risen from the dead, Zion Lutheran Church has risen from the ashes into the new life of Baptism River Community Church. 

You didn’t turn away from what looked like defeat. 

You didn’t need proof as a guarantee of faith, faith comes as a gift freely given. Jesus provides that gift in the forgiveness of sins, life with the Holy Spirit. 

Thomas appears to have satisfied his FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out, in realizing what he was asking for and from whom.

Our church is alive in the spirit of love. 

Love for each other and this community that our doors are open to. That is exactly what we are right now. 

Like the disciples facing the horrific death of Jesus you have faced what appeared to be the end of your church. 

It seems that some people in our community are still mourning that death, and perhaps like Thomas looking for proof, when Jesus is standing right before him. 

I give thanks to the Lord that those of you here had the courage to become what we are today. 

The courage to love abundantly in the face of the unknown. 

In those very personal and private moments with Jesus we proclaim, “My Lord and my God!” 

Even when it feels like the world is burning around us we are safe, all the doors are kept open by God, like the gates of righteousness. 

“By the Lord this has been done; it is marvelous in our eyes.” 

My fear of missing out is when I miss Jesus’ love standing with me right here and now, with an understanding of the past and a keen eye on the future. 

Our door of Christ’s love is open to welcome those who come as they are, not to prove that we belong, or judge who is fit, but to make room for everyone. 

Christ is Risen, and for this we can say, “Thanks be to God.”