Second Sunday of Easter Yr C (Jn 20:19-31)  04-11-2010

Throughout this past week, I have been drawn to the unfolding events of the mining disaster in West Virginia. The challenges to the recovery efforts persisted throughout the week, like unrelenting nightmares that refuse to loosen their hold on a community already grief-stricken with the loss of 25 people. Every morning, I turned on my television to hear the latest information and hoped to discover at least some good news from the brave efforts of the men and women who were working to rescue those miners who were unaccounted for in the initial search. Every morning, the media would ask the same question: can we believe the missing miners are still alive? And then the reporters would respond to their own question: the chances of anyone surviving are slim, but the families and all of us can still believe a miracle can happen.

Unfortunately, mining disasters are not an unfamiliar event; especially to those who live in areas where mining is a predominant form of employment. We might ask ourselves, “Why would anyone undertake such a dangerous job?” The truth is, that in places like rural West Virginia, the options for well paying employment are few. The New York Times detailed the dilemma faced by so many families in an article titled, “Miners’ Lives – Security, but never Peace of Mind.”[i] Many people have adapted to the dangerous realities of mining in an effort to provide for their families. And when difficult times arise, the community comes together to help those in need, to serve each other, and to gather and collectively believe that miracles are indeed possible.

Throughout this past week, we have also been living in the days immediately following the miraculous morning of Easter. Our Gospel lesson this morning begins with the followers of Jesus gathering on the evening of Easter Day, locked in a room for fear of those who had crucified Jesus. The amazing resurrection of Christ had been discovered earlier in the day, but the disciples were still struggling to understand what were they to do without Jesus. In the midst of their confusion and their fear, their Lord Jesus Christ appears to them and says, “Peace be with you.” The risen Christ is able to break through their locked doors, he is able to break through their fear and confusion and gives them the Peace of God, opening their hearts and minds to God’s love for them and God’s purpose for them. Christ commissions his friends to go out and serve others in his name and he strengthens them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of the disciples, Thomas, is not present that evening and he does not believe his friends.

Doubting Thomas (never has someone been given such an unfortunate nickname); Thomas was a disciple full of energy and action. John’s Gospel account mentions Thomas in other stories and he is portrayed as a loyal and trusting man, with a belief in his teacher so strong he is willing to risk his life in support of Jesus. We are given this story of Thomas as an example for those in the community who did not have the opportunity to be in that upper room. We might imagine Thomas’ state of mind as he entered the locked room that Easter evening and heard his friends tell of the miraculous meeting with Jesus. Thomas already had enough on his mind and now his friends tell him that the risen Christ had entered through a locked door, breathed the gift of the Holy Spirit on them and commissioned them to go and serve others! Perhaps we can fault Thomas for being a bit hard headed, a bit too rational – desiring to see his risen Lord with his own eyes, but we can also learn from his desire to place his trust in Christ alone and patiently wait for the Lord. As the Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 62: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”

Thomas waits for one long week and Christ returns to the upper room. Jesus approaches Thomas and assures him of all that he has questioned; and Jesus calls Thomas to serve others as he had called the other disciples on that first evening: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Jesus’ commissioning of the disciples vividly demonstrates his intention for the community – go out and serve others. That first Christian community received their commission from Christ, and we too have been commissioned by Christ to go out and serve.

The miracle of Easter morning brings a new light in our lives and we have been commissioned to spread that light throughout the world. Like the mining community in West Virginia, our lives will be filled with both joy and sorrow, but God has promised to be with us always and has called us to serve each other. We affirm our commitment to Christ’s commission of service in many ways, and this morning we will do so by signing a community covenant of service to local families and children. Blessed are those who have come to believe and blessed are we who are called to serve.  AMEN.

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[i] Shaila Dewan, “Miners’ Lives – Security but never Peace of Mind,” New York Times, April 8, 2010, accessed online 04/09/2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/us/09miner.html?hp