Easter: "Resurrection Overcomes Doubt"
“My Lord and my God!” John 20:28
One of the striking events in the wake of the Resurrection of Jesus is how the
disciple Thomas doubted so strongly. Even Mary Magdalene’s eyewitness account
of witnessing the Risen Lord (John 20:18) could not convince Thomas nor the
other disciples. Peter and John also saw the empty tomb (John 20:6-8) but even
they were living in doubt and confusion. For them, an empty tomb was not yet
Good News, but a source of fear and disappointment.
In the early hours of that first Day of Resurrection, the disciples are still asking
questions: Had the body of their teacher and friend been stolen? Is this a trick by
the religious or political authorities? The body of the one they watched hanging on
the cross, which they knew had been laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, is
reported to now be walking and talking to Mary and sending messages through her.
How could this be? How does this make sense?
For this reason, they gathered together and locked the door for fear that the same
fate might come upon them. Fear and doubt can do this to us. It can paralyze us,
lock us away, and prevent us from seeing both the present reality and the future
possibilities.
And still, into the midst of this intense fear and confusion, Jesus appeared. Jesus
stood among His disciples in spite of the locked door, in spite of their doubts, in
spite of all manner of earthly rules or laws. And when he had appeared he greeted
them by saying, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) Then he showed them his
hands and his side, marked by the nails and the sword which had pierced his
precious body. He wanted them to see and to know that he was not a ghost!
It was only then that their eyes were opened and they understood. Then they
rejoiced in the Lord! (John 20:20)
Now they understood that all was coming to fulfillment, just as Jesus had told them
earlier in his ministry: that He would rise from death on the third day. Now they
understood what Jesus meant when He said He would bring them comfort and joy
and when he promised to send the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. It may not have all
been clear as yet, but with Jesus standing before them, they were starting to see
that their mission was to go into the world, strengthened by the Good News of the
Resurrection, to let the world know that God loves them as they have loved Jesus.
(John 17:23)
Therefore, “Peace be with you,” said the Risen One.
The world, and especially this land, desperately needs peace today. The Day of
Resurrection is an opportunity to consider what peace means from a Christian
perspective.
First, Christ peace is a peace of the heart. When Christ enters our lives and hearts,
we are saved from the power of fear, sorrow, doubt, and despair. When Christ
enters our hearts we are saved from the hold that sin can have on our
lives—including hatred of our neighbor, or the desire for revenge, retribution, or
violence against them.
Secondly, peace can never be divorced from justice. As the psalmist writes:
“Justice and peace will kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)
When justice is done by the people, when it is enjoyed by all, then peace is the gift given by God to all.
This is the reason we hear the words of Jesus and are strengthened by them to do
the work of creating justice, for he has said “Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
In the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas and the awful tragedy being
inflicted on the people of Gaza, many are living with the same fear as the disciples
on that first Day of Resurrection. We, and in fact the whole world, are stricken with
confusion, fear, doubt, and even anger. We are not locked in a room, but we are
locked in a situation that seems to have no door of escape. We have lived through
war after war, attack after attack. Where is the possibility of justice? Where is any
kind of path to peace?
These feelings are especially powerful because it seems that world powers have
lost their compass. Not only are they not seeking justice, they seem only to be
caring for their own narrow and economic interests. They are seeking votes and not
God’s will and desire for humanity. Peace based on justice has become only a
dream. Care for the oppressed and suffering in the world has become a meme, sent
out as a message to the world only when it is convenient.
And still…dear people, know that in spite of all this, we are not actually locked
away. We are not victims of fear and doubt. We are not without hope. We can
confidently trust in the One who not only preached life, but was raised to life by
our Loving Creator. Our Risen Lord Jesus overcame all the things which the world
thinks are unavoidable and all-powerful: Death. Sin. Oppression. Dehumanization.
Violence. Racism. Hatred. All this and many more have been erased from our
hearts by the Resurrection.
And now, we are sent out with the peace of the Risen Christ to erase them from our
midst. We are sent out to proudly and bravely claim the peace that already exists,
work for the justice which will come, to open doors and open hearts to the truth
that life is stronger than death.
Today, if you are feeling locked away because of fear and despair, you only need to
join your siblings in Christ in raising your hands to proclaim: “Alleluia! Christ is
risen, Christ is risen indeed!” and to offer this prayer together:
“Lord Jesus, you are our only refuge. Grant this land of Resurrection the same peace you granted the first disciples. Let justice and peace kiss one another in this place and in the whole world. Let it begin with me. Amen.”
You may still doubt, even as you pray this prayer. But remember that Thomas was
not present when Jesus first appeared in the locked room. Without proof, he still
could not believe in any option but a dead Jesus.
After these terrible months of war, perhaps we have become a bit too much like
Thomas. It’s too much to comprehend the level of death and destruction around us.
The children of Gaza are dying in growing numbers of starvation and dehydration.
By some accounts, one out of three children are malnourished. Some reports say
that more than 70% of homes have been destroyed. What can be the purpose of
such violence? It is certainly a massacre. It is clearly becoming genocide.
And so we, like Thomas, have reasons to doubt. Thomas had seen death by public
execution. He had seen his teacher laid in a tomb. What reason did he have to
believe in any other option but a dead Jesus?
In the same way, what reason do we have to believe the lip service given by world
leaders? What reason do we have to believe their empty promises of help or tired
commitments to peace?
As expressed by one of the Palestinian Christians taking refuge in a church in
Gaza: “It seems the world powers have forgotten us. But our trust is only in God
and we know mercy comes only from the Risen Lord.”
St. Augustine in his confessions also prays to God about his doubts: “With good
reason is there solid faith for me in Him, because you will heal all my infirmities
through Him who sits at your right hand and intercedes for us.”
It was one week later, after the Day of Resurrection, when the disciples had once
again gathered in the upper room to pray. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus
did not scold Thomas for his doubts, but rather asks him: “Do not be faithless, but
believe.” (John 20:27)
And then Thomas replied: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
For me, this story is so very powerful because it assures us, even when we doubt,
even when our eyes are filled with the horrendous scenes of war, even when we
cannot look away from the suffering of our loved ones, that the living God is still
present among us. The Resurrection has taught us that our living God has not and
will not leave the oppressed, the sorrowful, or the doubtful.
As long as there is a living God, death is not an option.
As long as there is a living God, war is not an option.
As long as there is a living God, occupation is not an option.
And so in this Holy Week (alongside our Muslim compatriots who are also
honoring a holy season) let us join together to praise the One God, our Creator,
Redeemer and Sustainer.
Let us join Thomas in saying, “My Lord and my God!” for we know that our
prayers will be heard, and our hearts will be healed, and our bodies will be
strengthened for the continuing work for a just peace in this land and in the whole
world. The captives will be released. The starving will receive food. The bombs
will be silenced—and the tongues of the world leaders will be freed to speak the
truth.
This we know, because we have seen the Lord!
From Jerusalem, the City of Resurrection, we say:
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Al Masih Qam
Haqqan Qam
AMEN
+Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan