Acts 4:32-35
Luke wrote a two-volume work: Volume I, his Gospel, and Volume II the Acts of the Apostles (which describes the life of the Church after the Resurrection). These two volumes constitute over one-quarter of the New Testament. During the seven weeks of the Easter season, our first reading is always taken from the Acts of the Apostles. In today's passage, Luke gives an idealized description of the early Christian community.
1 John 5:1-6
Today and for the remaining Sundays of the Easter season, our second reading will be from the first letter of John. It was written about 100 AD, and is one of the last New Testament books to be composed. This letter was written in the tradition of the apostle John, and thus bears his name. Today's passage, from near the end of this brief letter, treats the fundamentals of Christian life: faith, love and the commandments.
John 20, 19-31
Bishop Untener’s Homily
There was a hit song a while back, "This One's For You." That phrase fits today's Gospel - this passage is for you, and me, and all of us. Here's why.
First of all, it brings out the tender, loving way in which Jesus treats failure, sin. Remember, this is Easter Sunday evening, about 48 hours after his death on the cross. Remember too that during his passion and death, they weren't the world's finest disciples. Peter had denied him three times. And the rest (except, in John's account, the Beloved Disciple) were noticeably absent from the moment he was arrested.
Notice his first words to them 48 hours later. Not, "Where were you?" or "How could you have done such a thing?" or "I'm so disappointed in you!” Look again at his first words: "Peace be with you." Then he starts talking about forgiveness, a welcome word to these disciples who desperately needed forgiveness. What a kind thing to do.
That's why "this one's for you... and me... and all of us." We're sinners, and down deep we know it, and the Lord always approaches us with words of peace and forgiveness. What a kind thing to do.
Another reason why this passage is custom-made for us is the way Jesus treats Thomas, whose name has gone down in history as "the doubting Thomas."
The first appearance of Jesus took place Sunday evening, 48 hours after his death. Thomas refused to accept the word of his fellow disciples about this. A week later Jesus appeared to them again and goes out of his way to help Thomas believe. Now I suppose we could picture Jesus being angry with Thomas, and saying in a harsh tone of voice, "Do not be unbelieving, but believe!" There's no reason to picture it that way. In themselves those words are encouraging words and we can easily picture Jesus trying to give him another chance and speaking in a kind tone: "Do not be unbelieving, but believe."
These are words we can take to heart. No one can really believe in the Risen Christ solely because of what others tell us. Second hand information won't do it. We need to experience the Risen Lord ourselves - not dramatically, but really. We don't simply believe in an abstract God. We're not Deists. We're Christians. We believe in the Risen Christ, and we believe because we have experienced his presence.
It happens in different ways... at quiet prayer, at the Eucharist, at unpredictable times. We experience the Risen Lord's presence. It's personal, one to one. It's very real, although we can't put it into words.
Which leads into the last reason why we can say about this Gospel passage, "This one's for you." A most dramatic thing happens at the end. All through John's Gospel it's as though we were in the "audience" watching and listening to what is taking place on stage. Jesus is the main character in this drama, and others interact with him - the disciples, Nicodemus, Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Now we come to the end and Jesus is talking to Thomas and, suddenly, the house lights go on and Jesus turns and talks to us. He really does. His last words in this passage are to us. Listen to them again:
"Jesus said to Thomas, `Have you come to believe because you have seen me? [Now, picture Jesus turning to us - the people living in the year 2000.] Blessed are they... who have not seen... and have believed.'"
That's us. Jesus' last words in this scene are a blessing upon us.
Then, as if that wasn't dramatic enough, the curtain comes down and the author walks out and talks to us. Listen again to what he says:
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name."
This one's for you... for me... for all of us... that we all may believe and have life ... forever and ever. Amen.
Originally given on April 30, 2000