John 20; 19- 31

Prayer for Understanding

Breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, O Lord, as we listen to the scriptures. Open our minds and hearts to receive your Living Word, and be filled with renewed hope.

God knows we have our limits, as the story of Thomas underlines

This story about Thomas and his questions is an interesting one to have included in john’s gospel

John’s Gospel was written so that we might believe in Jesus

Why would the writer of John feel that it was important to include this story in the write up of Jesus’ ministry?

There is a lot of detail given in this gospel about the last days Jesus spent on earth

In John we have a lengthy session of teaching and the high priestly prayer of Jesus

When the arrest and trial of Jesus are described in John there are many facts and particulars are given

John understands the importance of detail

We also know that John is selective about the stories that are told

The reader is told that Jesus did many more things than are written down, but that these stories are written so that we may believe

So what is in this story about Thomas that would make it useful?

We learn from this story that Jesus is not overwhelmed when he is confronted with the human foibles of his followers

And for some reason when Jesus interacts with Thomas, he has few words

We know that Jesus can go on at length

Just refer to the talk that he gives that starts in John 14 and goes on until the end of John 16, which then leads into a prayer that lasts the length of John 17

When Jesus interacts with Thomas he is brief

He knows what the doubt of Thomas has been

He knows the proof that Thomas has asked to see

Jesus offers that proof

Jesus then says blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe

We don’t know the intonation that Jesus used when he said those words

We know that Thomas continued as a disciple after this encounter

He felt affirmed by Jesus not ridiculed

It is safe to say that Jesus knows whatever doubt or reservation that you have

You can bring that to him and ask for help, and ask to be able to accept that part of yourself

Often in recognizing our limitations we try to find the way to work around them

In typical human fashion, it seems that if we try on our own strength to conquer what we perceive to be a character flaw it only taunts us more

When I was younger I used to try to control my temper as Anne Shirley in “Anne of Green Gables” was instructed to

Now some might say that my first problem was looking to fiction for a way to live

But I was young, and I ask you to bear with me in the telling of this tale

Those of you who are familiar with the story Anne of Green Gables know that Anne got herself into hot water as a result of her temper

She would become angry and lash out

As a girl she gave Mrs. Rachel Lynde a tongue lashing that the good lady never forgot

When she grew older she became a teacher who spoke passionately against corporal punishment

One day one of the boys pushed her past her limit and she took the pointer to him

Immediately she regretted it, because she knew it was not a choice she made for the boy’s good, but a submission to her own weakness of temper

She could have looked at her temper another way

Instead of trying to fight the messages she was getting from her heart and her gut

She could have looked at what good could come of the messages

Now, if you are going to do that, you have to start paying attention to the messages from your body early on

Just before you are ready to pick up something and biff it across the room is not the time to try to figure out how to make something good come from your ire!

Let’s go back to Anne Shirley again

The student that caused her to lose her cool was a repeat offender

She daily tried to win him over

How might the story have gone if Anne had accepted the part of her that had issues with the young lad rather than resisted it?

How might she have been able to handle the conflict if she had accepted that she had troubles with this student?

If she allowed herself to feel rejected by someone who was rude and unresponsive, rather than hope the kindness from her would mean a change in him?

What might have happened if she could have asked God to help her accept that there was a part of her that wanted to be loved and accepted, and that this student made her feel vulnerable?

Maybe instead of resisting the warnings her body was giving her, she could have realized that she was in the presence of someone who was rejecting her

That he would be who he was regardless of how kind she was

That he was who he was for his own reasons, not because of anything she had said or done

Maybe on that fateful day that he provoked her past the point of reason

She could have sent him to split kindling for the school fire, or some other such task to give them both a chance to re-group

Who knows?

On a further note

What might it have been like for Anne to be able to ask God to help her accept her weakness?

To recognize that she valued friendship and acceptance

And to ask God to help her live with the rejection from this student

Often when we try to ignore or improve a weakness it seems to take on a life of its own

We seem to meet it at every turn

If we ask God to help us accept a weakness and learn to live with it, we can find ways to work around it or with it

With God’s help out weakness does not define us, but we overcome it in another way

We don’t need to hide our shortcoming from God

The latest issue of ‘Presbyterian Connection” has stories in it about how people and congregations are coping now that we are going into the second year of pandemic

The early days of lock down could have felt like the early days after the resurrection did to the first disciples

It was limiting, it was mostly unexpected and it left us wondering how long we would be confined

The disciples had those questions answered rather quickly, even Thomas only had to wait a week to meet Jesus face to face

And here we are still managing a new way of living

One of the lessons we can take from this story is that Jesus is not overwhelmed when faced with human foibles

Maybe another lesson we can take is that Jesus is with us for the long haul

The gospel of John does not tell us what happened to the disciples years after the resurrection, but historical works do

Thomas was a missionary who was martyred

The appearance of Jesus in the locked house gave Thomas the confidence that Jesus was alive

The gift of the Holy Spirit gave Thomas the courage to do respond the commission of Jesus, as the Father has sent me so send I you

Those who are followers of Jesus have the presence of God in their lives

Jesus gave the gift of the Spirit and we can trust that the Spirit is always near

There are days that we need that hope and that reminder

The stories in Presbyterian Connection” remind us how God had continued to work in the through the church even though we may wonder how this could happen

One amazing story is the ministry that Camp Kintail has had during the pandemic

Camp Kintail is a Presbyterian Church camp that is in Goderich, ON

Here there are normally traditional camp programs, day camps and programming offered in communities “Kintail on the road”

Last spring these programs were all regretfully cancelled

As those who work to keep Kintail were wondering if the facility would sit vacant for a year there was a request from the Huron Women’s Shelter

They were already at capacity and experience showed them that times of emergency cause a rise in the need for shelter beds

The women’s shelter wondered if space at Kintail could be used to give shelter to some of their clients

The Kintail folk said yes

They put up physical distancing signs, adapted food service practices, performed a deep cleaning and made welcome packages for the new guests

The new year-round building at Kintail became the temporary home for these new guests

When the need to house clients at Kintail had passed there was still a connection with the Huron Women’s Shelter

The Executive Director stayed at Kintail when she was working in the area and staff meetings were held at Kintail because they could safely social distance outside

Not a huge happening in the unfolding of the world perhaps

But that is where most of us live and move

In the day-to-day conflicts that can help us grow stronger or trip us up

And when we openly come to God with the topic of struggle

We are heard and we are helped

The disciple Thomas did that as well

He had trouble believing that Jesus had appeared to his colleagues when he was absent from the group

He said what was in his mind, and maybe on his heart

Essentially he wanted to know how this could be

He had given up security to follow Jesus

Jesus had shown him what it meant to be part of the kingdom of God

To be cherished by God and called by God as a partner in service

And it was all taken away

The Romans

The ones who stood for cruelty and faithlessness

They had tortured Jesus to death

And now, Thomas was supposed to believe that what his own eyes had seen and what his poor heart had endured was not the case

Thomas was supposed to believe that in spite of what had happened that Jesus was alive

If we are honest, we have to admit that most of us have some sympathy for Thomas

What is a rational man supposed to think?

Thomas had seen what happened to Jesus

He had seen people die before

And death usually had the last word

When Thomas is told that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples

He doesn’t hide hos doubt, or try to pretend he is in the same place as the other disciples

Thomas has asked for concrete proof

When Jesus sees Thomas again he shows him his hands and side, exactly as Thomas had requested

If Jesus was open to showing Thomas that his faith would be supported and helped

We don’t have to try to pretend that we have no doubt or fear

We can bring the trouble in our lives directly to God

It may be that it will be solved, as it was for Thomas

My experience has been that God is more likely to show you how to live with your trouble

To use another quote from Jesus

We will be helped to carry our cross

It will be carried

Up out of the way so it doesn’t trip us up

We will be helped to carry it, so it does not depend upon our own resolve and strength of character

The following story is shared by Joni Ericson Tada:

The starter’s gun fired and off the contestants raced.

As they rushed toward the finish line one boy left the track and started running toward his friends standing in the infield.

The co-ordinator blew his whistle, trying to get the boy to come back to the track, but all to no avail.

Then one of the other competitors noticed, a down syndrome girl

She stopped just short of the finish line and called out to the boy,

“Stop, come back, this is the way.” 

Hearing the voice of her friend the boy stopped and looked.

“Come back, this is the way” she called.

The boy stood there, confused.

His friend, realizing he was confused, left the track and ran over to him.

She linked arms with him and together they ran back to the track and finished the race.

They were the last to cross the line, but were greeted by hugs from their fellow competitors and a standing ovation from the crowd.

When we are honest with Jesus we are met in the same way that girl met her friend on the track and guided him back to where he needed to be

Invitation to the Offering

In this season of Easter, we celebrate God’s most precious gift to us in Christ’s dying and rising. As we present our gifts to God, may our generosity reflect God’s goodness to us and the hope we have found in Christ Jesus.

Prayer of Dedication

Generous God, we thank you for the hope and joy we find in your resurrecting power. Bless the gifts we bring so they may spread that hope and joy in the world you love. In the name of your greatest gift, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession (teach response)

Thank you, loving God, for your renewing presence in our lives,

and for the many ways you make yourself known to us:

in words spoken in peace,

in actions that embody love,

in creation that awakens wonder within us,

and in worship that inspires faith and understanding.

With memories of the grace you have shown us,

and with confidence in you will yet show us more,

we pray that all people will come to know the life-giving joy we find in Christ.

 

We pray for those who are feeling fearful, worried or overwhelmed,

especially as the months of pandemic restrictions stretch on.

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

We pray for those who face violence and unrest each day,

in countries around the world and at home in our own community.

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

We pray for our national, provincial, and municipal leaders

as they lead planning for our communities to recover from the pandemic.

Give them wisdom and compassion,

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

We pray for our congregation, for churches in our community,

and for Christians around the world, especially those who face persecution.

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

We pray for our neighbours, especially for those who live in poverty

and those who know rejection and discrimination.

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

We pray for those who are ill, in pain or in grief.

We remember before you, silently or aloud, those on our hearts today:

(Keep silence for 20–30 seconds.)

Bring them comfort and strength,

Lord Jesus,

Reveal to them your risen presence.

God our Maker, hear our prayers,

and use us in ways we may not yet even imagine

to respond to those around us with the love we see in Jesus Christ

and the confidence we draw from his resurrection.

With hopeful hearts we offer the prayer that he taught us:

The Lord’s Prayer