[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 2C: “Jesus Died to Take Away Your Sins, Not Your Mind”

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Apr 27, 2019 8:56 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 2C: “Jesus Died to Take Away Your Sins, Not Your Mind”

DearFriends, ThisSunday’s sermon is entitled “Doubting Thomas” or “Jesus Died to Take Away YourSins, Not Your Mind” and is based on the gospel (John 20:19-31).  Here it is:   Today we heard about one of my favorite saints-Thomas, often called “Doubting Thomas.” We heard how he wouldn’t believe without the evidence.  But let’s back up the story a bit.  Life was terrible for the disciples after thecrucifixion.  They had all been disloyal,cowardly, run away just when Jesus needed them the most.  After the Good Friday tragedy, they were sofearful that the Jewish authorities would come after them next for anotherspectacle- execute them to remind the common people to toe the mark and forgetabout that “Jesus person.”  Not onlythat, the women were circulating rumors that Jesus was not in the tombanymore.  They had to wonder if someonehad stolen the body or if the unthinkable had really happened- he had raisedLazarus, you know.  But if he were alive,it still wouldn’t be the same- he’d probably hate them for leaving him to diealone, simply in the company of some women, John, two thieves, and Romansoldiers.  Besides, when you’re dead,you’re dead- aren’t you?!  When peopleare in terrible times, they often prefer company, so it was their habit to meeton the first day of the week perhaps in the same upper room in which Jesus hadinstituted Holy Communion and washed their feet.  This time, though, they met behind closeddoors- probably for three reasons:1.       To remember the past. What a wonderful person he was, and such a great teacher- probably thebest the world has ever seen!  Not onlythat- he was an amazing miracle-worker and healer! 2.       To grieve; 3.       To stick together as they began to try to figure outwhat to do with their lives.You know the story by heart- in walks Jesus throughthe solid wall or the locked door. Before they can fear, he says “Shalom” i.e. “Peace be with you.”  Now Thomas wasn’t there, but you can be surethat he heard about it.  He must havethought basically what I would have thought if someone told me that they hadseen my deceased husband- “You’re kidding. It was someone who looked like him. You’re overcome with grief and your mind is playing tricks on you.”  As you recall- Thomas told them: “Unless Itouch the scars in his hands and place my hand in the scar in his side, I willnever believe.”  Actually- can you blameThomas?  The other disciples were askinghim to believe something had happened that no human being had ever experiencedbefore?Expecting people to believesomething they had never seen reminds me of a story I haven’t told for quite awhile and really fits this gospel.  It’sabout the young son of an Episcopal priest. When his mother called him in from play for dinner, he was filthy.  Instead of washing, he came directly to thetable.  His mother scolded him about thisand reminded him that he had germs all over his hands from playing with thedog, digging in the soil, and whatever else he had touched.  She told him to leave the table and wash hishands as soon as the food was blessed. As he left the table, the whole family could hear him mutter, “Germs andJesus, germs and Jesus, all I hear about in this family is germs and Jesus- andI haven’t seen either one.”Maybe the child hadn’t seeneither, but Thomas was about to encounter the living, resurrected Christ.  His amazed response still rings in our ears:“My Lord and my God!”; thus Thomas became the first person to utter the firstcreed of the early church: “Jesus the Christ is Lord.”  This wasn’t the only time we heard of Thomasquestioning Jesus when he didn’t understand something.  Thomas’ other episode of questioning what hedid not understand came earlier when Jesus was trying to prepare his disciplesfor the future.  He told them he wasgoing away to prepare a place for them, and that they knew where he was going,and they knew the way.  You KNOW none ofthe disciples had the foggiest idea what Jesus was talking about, but theydidn’t want to look stupid, so they said nothing.  Only Thomas had the guts to say, “Lord, wedon’t even know where you are going.  Howcan we know the way?”  Because of Thomas,we have the powerful statement of Jesus when he said, “I am the Way; I amTruth; I am Life.  No one comes to theFather except by me.”What’s in this episode forour lives?  Three things:1.       First: Be like Thomas. One of the characteristics I love about our Wednesday noon Mass-Biblestudy and our Thursday evening School of Biblical Studies is- people willreally ask questions!  No one pretends toknow something, if they really don’t know it. They ask!  Good habit!  If you don’t understand something, speakup!  It’s an old cliché, but it’s true:there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Actually, on second thought- there IS such a thing as a stupid question-the one someone is afraid to ask. 2.       Just because you read something in the paper or hearsomething some famous person (maybe preacher) said, don’t believe it withoutthinking it through for yourself.  Be aquestioner, like Thomas.3.       Make your faith your own.  The Episcopal Church is a thinking person’schurch.  We use scripture, tradition, andreason to sort things out.  Three truthsto remember:a.      “Your mother’sfaith won’t save you.”  Think thingsthrough.  As Jesus taught us: “Ask andyou will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be openedfor you” (Luke 11:9).  Claim and liveyour own faith.b.      “Jesus died totake away your sins, not your mind.”c.      “There’s a hugedifference between being brainwashed and being baptized.” For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org. Blessedpreaching,JudyBoliSt.Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw,Michigan-- 
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