Moments of Resurrection
Easter 2B
Acts 4:32-35; John 20:19-31
4/19/09
Lorraine Ljunggren

        I wonder how many of us have ever been at peace or known ourselves to be at peace behind a locked door. I wonder how many of us have ever felt the presence of God in a closed room.

        Even if only for a short while, I'm hoping each of us is aware or has been aware of peace dwelling in our hearts, assured that all is well or that all will be well. Even if only for a short while, I'm hoping each of us knows or has known beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is very much alive – very real – real to the point that we rest assured that God's own Spirit is with us.

        If it hasn't happened yet, I'm hoping that we'll each come to know the kind of peace with which Jesus greets the disciples the evening of that first Resurrection Day. If it hasn't happened yet, I'm hoping that we'll each come to feel the presence of the Risen Christ in our hearts, minds, and souls. I know I've had these experiences – whether behind locked doors or in a closed room or not.

        But, I've also had those experiences in my life that are anything but peace-full. I've had days when my heart feels as though it will break from some event either in my personal life or in the life of the world around me. On more than one occasion I've shut myself in a room and cried my eyes out, sometimes trying to do so quietly in case a parent or roommate or anyone else was outside my closed door. I've asked the age old question, “Why me?” I've asked, “Why me, God?!” – with an exclamation point after the question mark. I've known some times that were awful! Just awful!

        So I can at least imagine what the disciples of Jesus feel when they lock themselves away for fear of what the Judean authorities might do to them. We all know that the world judges us by the company we keep. The disciples were keeping company with someone charged with sedition – someone considered a traitor to the ruling government. Talk about dangerous. This on top of the fact the disciples are feeling the weight of their grief!

        But, I can also imagine what the disciples feel when they unexpectedly become aware of Jesus' presence. I can imagine it because I've experienced what I can only call 'moments of resurrection' – moments even more powerful than feeling renewed. 'Moments of resurrection' in which I feel as though I'm being lifted out of some sort of pit or that I can suddenly see the way forward – a path to make my way out of a pit. I credit these 'moments of resurrection' to the Spirit of the Risen Christ. You see, unlike those who've locked themselves away, I believe Mary Magdalene's testimony that Jesus lives.

After Jesus' presence becomes real for those who've locked themselves behind closed doors, those disciples then feel free to testify to the peace, grace, and power of the Risen Christ. They become believers in a new way. They already believed Jesus was of God. Now they are sure Jesus is of God in a mind-boggling but also life-changing way!

        Yes, now, we know the lives of the women and men who follow Jesus from Galilee to Capernaum and all the way to Jerusalem have already been changed just by being with Jesus day-in-and-day-out. Those who make it through Jesus' death at the hands of the state certainly know their lives to be changed. But on that Easter Day and in the days that follow, their experience of the Risen Christ is something so different and so amazing that centuries later we are here because of their testimony and their commitment to the Good News of God in Christ.

        The point of John's entire Gospel is that we believe. Listen again, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn. 20:30-31)

        Did you catch the last phrase? “…that through believing you may have life in [the Messiah's] name.”

        This journey we're on – this quest to find – to know to be known by God – to be in relationship with God in Christ Jesus – this journey is about having life in God's name.

        However many times we might hear the Gospel stories, it always comes back to life! Jesus wants so much for all those he meets to have life and to have it abundantly.

        This doesn't mean having abundant stuff! This isn't about seeing who departs this life with the most toys, the biggest house, the fanciest car, or the most fashion-filled closet.

        This is about how we live the here and now. This journey of-or-to faith is about living in the here and now in such a way that all of God's people have life.

        The earliest Christians do not have it any easier than we do today. The world was a mess then, which means they had their work cut out for them. The world is a mess now, which means we have our work cut out for us.

        In talking about the earliest Christians, Sue Armentrout writes, “Those Christians…show us what it means to live in the power of the Resurrection. We see 'grace abounding' in their spirits and in their behavior. The earliest church seems to have been a little bit of Eden – or heaven. [But, Sue is a realist so she notes,] And it didn't take too long for this first flush of faith and obedience to dry up and begin to look like what we see today. [However, she says,] The power is still available, but we don't seem to avail ourselves of it on a regular basis. Something happens. Sin raises its ugly head…. Domestication of the Spirit tames its power, and the original fire is reduced to embers – or quenched altogether. How can we recapture the witness of those first believers?” she asks. (Synthesis)

        Well, in musing about her question, I would ask us to take note of something Jesus says in today's Gospel. “As Abba-God has sent me, so I send you.” (Jn. 20:21b)

        There it is! The commissioning of the followers of Jesus who had locked themselves away from the world for fear of worldly powers. In spite of that, they are to bring life to others in the many ways Jesus' life and ministry brings life to others. Easy? No. Without risk? No. But worth everything? Yes.

        This call and admonition to accomplish God's purposes for this world of ours doesn't just belong to those first followers.

        We are those commissioned to bring life to others here and now. Sometimes that life will come from a kind word or an inspiring sermon; it will come from a hungry belly filled or the pain of grief shared and lifted. That life will come from continuing in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in coming to this table for the breaking of bread and in saying our prayers privately and altogether. It will come when and whenever we claim the power of the Spirit in the name of justice and peace. Life will come every time we are willing to believe we can make a difference in spite of those who say it isn't possible.

        “How can we recapture the witness of those first believers?” (op. cit.) I believe we can do so when we open the locks we put on our hearts and minds and souls, then actively invite the Spirit of the Risen Christ to come in. I believe we can do so when we come out from behind closed doors and risk being part of a community of faith which, with God's help, will challenge the status quo of our individual lives so that we might challenge the status quo of the world. We can open our eyes and recognize those 'resurrection moments' in our own lives – those 'moments of resurrection' in which we feel as though we're being lifted out of some sort of pit or that we can suddenly see the way forward – a path to make our way out of a pit – a path others can follow as well. We can credit these 'moments of resurrection' to the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We can believe Mary Magdalene's testimony that Jesus lives.

        And if all else fails – if all else fails, we can trust that there isn't a lock or a door through which the Spirit of Christ cannot find a way to us so that we and others might have life and have it abundantly! Amen.

©2009 Lorraine Ljunggren