John 20:19-31
Easter 2- Years A, B, C
In Lent we were between dusts -- where we came from and where we are headed.
In Easter we are between a pre-conception word, "Don't be afraid" and a post-resurrection word, "Peace be with you."
These Easter words are as preludes to unimaginable experiences to come. In both the case of Mary and the disciples a spirit of new life is sent forth. First to conceive a child overflowing with mercy and then to empower forgiveness for all children of every age in everyday life.
Easter is a moment, a ministry of forgiving is a lifetime long.
How can you tell someone has received an Easter experience in their own life?—whether they forgive easily, even before there was a need for it. Any religious talk outside of the realm of forgiveness is glib. It doesn't reckon with the need for forgiveness and the difficulty of living up to being commissioned to forgive.
So did you have an Easter on the official day? Yesterday? If not, fear not. Peace be with you. It's not too late. You can simply start with the easiest forgiveness available to you and grow into the rest.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/04/john-2019-31.html
Many signs have been written, revered, passed on through scripture. Many more were not so written, etc.
This same phenomena is going on today in the work of the promised Holy Spirit. Many signs are recognized. Many signs are not so.
Listen again to the review of John's Spirit promises to the whole community, not just to individuals:
The Advocate/Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom G*D will send in Christ's name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that Jesus has said to you -- 14:26
When the Advocate/Helper comes, whom I, Jesus, will send to you from the Abba God, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Abba God, she will testify on my behalf -- 15:26
When the Advocate/Helper comes, she will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment -- 16:8
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, she will guide you into all the truth -- 16:12-13
All of this is our experience. Sometimes this is made manifest and sometimes it still remains hidden.
The best way to reveal the spirit is to be a "Wound of Christ." Through our lives others come to believe. Through our lives believers continue to believe.
Live well, Wound of Christ.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/april2004.html
"Peace be with you" is a phrase that is always in order to be reflected upon and grown into.
Bouncing back to 14:27, it is an outcome of living with G*D, exemplified in Jesus and many. Moving forward to 15:4-10 and the emphasis upon mutual "abiding" it completes our joy (15:11) and leads to an expansion of that abiding with Jesus to abiding with one another, loving one another (15:17). Continuing further, it lays the groundwork for the openness needed to hear the more the Spirit will bring than we can currently bear to hear (16:12) and to gather courage to face persecution in any future event (16:33).
In reprising this in 20:21 and 20:26 we return to the mutual abiding of G*D/Jesus/disciples and the crucial aspect of forgiveness that opens us to love one another and to move past the past. Particularly, in Thomas' case, it opens to belief through the presence of being, not the probing of certainty.
All that to the side, if it can ever be far from the center of things in John's portrayal that has Jesus at peace enough that the Gethsemane prayer for an exemption is not present, "Jesus' Peace" is one of several ways to continue addressing current issues of clinging to life and accepting death that have been present with current media attention on Terri and Karol. It may be the balm we need in our time as Jesus/the 10/Thomas found it to be in their time.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/april2005.html
"Put a finger here."
"Where?"
"In a wound."
The Body of Christ is not just a congregation or denomination of faithful believers. The Body of Christ, in the beginning, was with G*D, as "Word", bringing forth evening and morning, daily. Wherever there is a wound, Christ calls us to find belief by putting our finger there and to energize that belief with a life lived to reveal what is behind the wound.
Iraq is a wound of Christ that needs a finger of belief that there is a peace greater than any war or all wars added together.
AIDS is a wound of Christ that needs a finger of belief that there is healing behavior to avoid it and deal with it - eventually binding us together.
Starving children are wounds of Christ that needs a finger of belief that a feast can be set today with more than enough for all.
Negative campaigns are wounds of Christ that needs a finger of belief that honesty is the best policy and cutting a corner to be in a power position cuts that very power from being used from underneath one.
Heterosexism is a wound of Christ that needs a finger of belief that love is possible beyond cultural rules and regulations.
Global warming is a wound of Christ that needs a finger of belief that caring for Earth is care for self.
As an individual I don't have enough fingers for all the wounds of Christ, but between us, we do. As we move our fingers toward a wound we find what we believe - that we are more than we believe. We are also what we doubt and what we love and what we envision. Just being in the presence of a wound stimulates us to move beyond assent that something ought to be done to participation in a resurrection oriented toward healing.
In this morning's New York Times Harvey Fierstein concludes an editorial regarding the wound of hate-speech, "...you cannot harbor malice toward others and then cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise up against them all, including your own. Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently."
- - -
Tinkerbell asks us to believe
it is a healing force
as Thomas believes
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
points toward a wound
in Gaia's ozone
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
points toward a wound
in justice denied
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
points toward a wound
in peace broken
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
even begins to waggle
a difference is made
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
points toward our own wound
wholeness comes and goes forth
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
joins a finger
community arises
Jesus' wound shrinks
each time a finger
becomes a hand
Jesus' wound heals
no second coming
each time a finger
becomes a hand
Jesus' wound heals
paradise again
Jesus' wound heals
each time a finger
raises a question
about a world's wound
Jesus' finger greets
each wounded soul
mine yours our
peace be with you
each time our fingers
join Jesus' fingers
sparks fly out
peace settles in
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
"Now the whole group" - "when kindred live together" - "that you also will have fellowship with us". These phrases set a tone of what it means to be joined in joy.
A test comes someone is not part of our gathering when a very specific and important event happens. Regardless of the reason they are not present, they are not present. In their absence comes a revelation that could very well drive a wedge between the true experiencers and those without that experience. And so Thomas' story is an important witness of continued openness. Thomas was still welcome even without a corroborating experience. Fortunately he received one. That helps a lot in binding a community together. But, and this is significant, unanimity is not foundational to community.
The downside is that there are expectations set up that folks will be required to come to believe in the same dramatic way as did those who experienced a risen Christ Jesus in this cell. We, to this day, separate folks out according to their experience of faith and their differences from the majority or the powerful. If they measure up, they're welcome. So Thomas' story is used to convince people that they cannot be different (doubt) because that would bar them from fellowship in an already together group.
Thomas is laughed at rather than revealing how laughable are our restrictive standards.
Remember that Thomas was with those who had already experienced a resurrection. Use this as an inclusive evangelistic witness for inviting "others" to be present. This will offset the temptation to have the un-experienced set aside until they measure up. If a community is not focused on key words in the opening phrases: "whole", "live", and "also" it has learned the smaller lesson and missed the larger.
- - -
revelation is not theory
it is experience-able
with eye and hand
with kindred and enemies
with ancestors and descendants
with light and dark
with male and female
with all orientations
with slave and free
with all economies
with self and others
revelation is not unique
revelation is not eternal
revelation is not owned
revelation is invitational
revelation is expansive
revelation is prophetic
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
Joy is not in what is currently going on, but in participation with a vision of a Peaceable Preferred Future always before us. [Look at "Peaceable Kingdom", an early American painting by Edward Hicks, and wonder about what changes are needed to update it.]
This is a loose translation of a phrase from Acts 2:25, "I saw the Lord always before me." It was from this that David affirmed, "therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh shall live in hope."
The word "Lord" is fraught with overtones. It does not mean one thing to all people. So it is important to figure out what one means by the old language of "Lord" when using it and begin to use the meaning (even if it is a more awkward phrase that does not run trippingly off the tongue, thus rejoicing it on one level) rather than the shorthand.
Here it would seem we are speaking of a particular vision. Peter casts it in terms of escaping Hades, but we might well speak of it in a positive way by referring to some aspect of what might loosely be called "Paradise" or a preferred future come on earth.
What vision would you hold before yourself to stimulate joy?
- - -
in your presence is joy
summarizing
every love song and hymn
uniting
secular and sacred music
challenging
every separation we construct
reducing
our specifics to generalities
expanding
lovers into love
concretizing
love into lovers
binding
joy to presence
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
See, Thomas was right to question --
It cannot be found in the scriptures, but one story has it that upon his resurrection, the Lord appeared to a certain fisherman.
"I am Jesus - My death has saved all who do or will believe, and I am returned to show the Father's love and power.
"No, you're not Jesus, so bug off, you're scaring all the fish," answered the old fisherman.
"I see thou are full of doubt. What would thee have me do to show who I am?"
"Walk across the river," he tells Jesus.
So Jesus starts walking across the river. Next thing, he sinks and disappears under the water. After he swims back to shore, the old man says to him, "There you are, see, you're not Jesus, you can't walk across water"
Jesus responds, "Well, I used to be able to do it until I got these darned holes in my feet!"
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
"Legends … deal with the most crucial questions of the world and human life. They attack these questions: Is the order of the world really as we learned to know it? Can we expect that life will run its course as we were taught it should? Do we know all the forces that regulate the universe and our life, or are their hidden dimensions that can divert the causal, rational flow of things? And if there are unknown forces, can they be identified, changed, avoided, or exploited to our benefit?"Legend and Belief by Linda Dégh.
What is the crux of the legend in this passage? Does it revolve around the extended Thomas stories (within and beyond the Gospels) or is it best seen in light of the disciples as a whole? How might these two perspectives help inform one another?
For a bit of fun consider the distinction between
doubt / satire
doubt / cynicism
doubt / sarcasm
doubt / criticism
doubt / disappointment
Then go to atimeforweeping.com [defunct domain] and see more doubts like this one
Finally, what revelatory experience of yours would welcome a Thomas-like response from one of your "family"? Would your questioner still be welcome a week after the clarifying of an experiential rift between you?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
Fear on the inside the equivalent to mighty winds on the outside. Both bring life-quakes.
A word of peace is a vision of a renewed appreciation of diversity (renewed from the richness of creation in all its variety and interdependence).
Forgiveness allows a next opportunity to hear again a mystery of the universe. This forgiveness and hearing cuts across all barriers that were thought to be so strong.
Forgiveness includes in those who have not had the same experience of fears relieved and community believed. Forgiveness is a blessing every once and future person needs to both experience and practice offering until it is second-nature.
So it is that life comes forth and is renewed.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html
Whether holy humoring or not, I find sweet release in "The Message" version of John 20:22-23. It is a reminder that the resurrection of Jesus brings the forgiveness he asks for in Luke's version (yes, acknowledged, it's not fair to so conflate Luke into John).
With some stage directions thrown in:
Then [Jesus] took a deep breath [bigger, bigger]
and breathed [Pentecost whooshed] into them.
"Receive the Holy Spirit," he said [with a smile, knowing it was going to change them].
[Then seriously] "If you forgive someone's sins [dramatic pause],
they're gone for good [good chuckle].
If you don't forgive sins [start of giggle],
what are you going to do with them [belly laugh or guffaw]?!!
Sometimes we need to pause in the telling. Thomas wasn't there, so how long before he heard the report of the other 10 (or was it only 8 because a couple of others were also missing in action and it wasn't in their nature to kvetch (doubt/question/complain) about missing something). We can let the good news of forgiveness hang in the air for a bit before proceeding to verse 24.
This helps me remember that "angels can fly because they take themselves lightly" (Chesterton) and we begin to soar when we take forgiveness seriously enough to participate in it.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I believe in Forgiveness of sins Apostles' Creed. Is this what you believe about forgiveness?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
In this passage, fear of "Them" is stronger than "fear" of the Lord. So it is we hide ourselves from others and self.
Peace, as an antidote to fear, is not etherial calm or green pastures. Peace is active. Here it is sender and sendee (learn strategy and tactics). Here it is forgiven and forgiving (learn premeditated mercy). Here it is patient (learn the three keys to peace - experience, experience, experience that sets a larger context). Here it is belief present and future (not creedal belief, but abundant life belief).
Try this sermon on for size Called as Peacemakers.
Since this is also Holy Humor Sunday for some, peace is a perspective that brings laughter, from a chuckle to a belly-laugh. Now we can see ourselves hiding away, what lovable, old sillies. We can see "They" are not the issue, "we" are - how could we have missed that? One way we missed it is our own propensity to substitute mammon for mystical metaphor - see cartoon.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/04/john-2019-31.html
Teachings have a way of rolling on (the communication technique of “forward pacing” helps store said teachings until they are needed later). I wonder how many times Jesus had to teach and teach again a sense of peace in the midst of every occasion. Most of us can whomp up a good fear in the friendliest of situations and so the number was probably pretty high, like daily, like bread.
Notice how the passage reinforces this teaching of peace. It is said, for the aural learners. It has the picture of sending and being sent for visual learners. It was breathed on them for the kinesthetic learner. In the aftermath of a crucifixion and surprising emptiness of tomb, fear quotients were probably pretty high. This is experiential time, not doctrinal time, and, hopefully, we will return again to our experiences in spite of the accumulated doctrines.
Notice also that there is physical body stuff here and it is easy to get side-tracked on it rather than on the experience of peace.
When we are peaceful enough amid life's hurried ways, we can hear a question beyond the literal words - who would want to retain a sin if forgiveness and dismissal of sin were a real option?
Imagine what happens to the disciples during the elipsis of a week between visits of Jesus' teaching of peace. How did it go with Thomas and Mary and Peter and the rest? Did they get hung up on what they had seen of their fear of wounds? Some saw his hands, some his side, some his feet or scalp (even though not mentioned), just like the old story of blind folks describing an elephant. Thomas could bring lots of critical questions and wedge issues. Had the mood in the room changed from fear of authorities to fear of one another?
And why does Thomas get the extra opportunity to touch wounds when a week earlier they just got to see wounds? Oh, the opportunities for community breaking are numerous and constant.
So what do you think was written here that would get you to believe Jesus to be a faithful teacher of ways to G*D? Was it body imagery? Was it the reminder of peace? Was it a community brought back to focus on going forth instead of arguing among themselves? Which of these, or another, is most persuasive to you.
Whichever it might be, remember to laugh with recognition when reminded of that ancient teaching of peace. The laughter will be as important as the teaching or enactment of same.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/04/john-2019-31.html
It was evening (dark) and the doors were locked (cold stone closed) for fear (death) was present.
These times come to everyone. Usually it is not physical tombs that we are in, but emotional, psychological, societal, or other binds that reduce us to fearful reactions. Fear is more prevalent than death.
Into these times a word of “Peace” is needed to be heard. It may come in any number of forms that shine a light on our current reality and future possibilities. “Wholeness” is reminder that is constantly slipping away from us.
When peace and wholeness are clearly in front of us, we can catch another glimpse of an important purpose of common-good. We have a mission larger than ourselves, larger than our fear. It will allow us to face both life and a consequence of death.
These easter moments of peace and wholeness fit the stereotype of a Holy Spirit at work. But, whatever language, sacred or not, is put on these experiences, we find those moments put down a fulcrum point of peace and we can begin to lever against fear. We put our hand to the plow, so to speak, or into a past wound - keeping it alive in our mind and working to see it is not repeated.
Yes, this episode was repeated, sign after sign, for it is such a difficult one to grasp. As soon as we think we have it corralled, fear breaks out again. Was it that Jesus did many different signs or simply variations on this one? As Jesus was visited in the tomb, so a Spirit of Peace, of Jesus, visits us in our fears that we might have life, abundantly, peacefully, wholly.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/04/john-2019-31.html
Holy Humor Sunday
Jesus the Jester was well known to the Disciples. That was one of the problems with taking notes on his various teachings. You’d be jotting down class notes and then Jesus would throw in one of his parabolic koans. There was no choice but to stop to get your bearing again. He always seemed to quiz folks on the stuff that got missed after one of his switcheroos.
This accounts for some of the missing sections in stories about Jesus’ life. Fortunately we have found some additional notes from several of the Galilee Shore Irregulars. They never made it all the way to Disciple, much less Apostle, but their notes do fill in a few things as they were only focused on getting the facts, not trying to jockey for position on Jesus’ nearly non-existent curve of a grading system. Being beloved this week and behind his back the next seemed to distract those who had enrolled and paid full tuition. The Irregulars could just focus on getting everything down to take it home and go over it later.
Tam, son of Raziel, and others did write down other “signs” of life, they just didn’t survive the editor’s focus on believing without actual experience.
Tam reports:
Then, Jesus, Blessed be He, said to Thomas, “Put your finger here in my wrist, or foot, or side. Don’t doubt it is me.”
Then, Thomas reached out to Jesus wrist and put his finger in the hole. There was a loud buzzing sound and Thomas jerked his hand away.
Then, Jesus said, “Gotcha!”
Then, Thomas said, “Yo, Jesus, you got me good! High five, bro.”
Then, Jesus said, “Let’s hope future generations will be as shocked as you and shift from their expectations about the way things are always done and come to appreciate a Great Joke.”