To be in the right place at the right time--for parents the meaning of that phrase is often translated into the ability to capture that certain moment on film--the moment of the child's first step or their success at a certain athletic endeavor or that special moment when they stood at center stage in all their glory. Of course part of the problem is being close enough or having a clear enough camera angle. I have a wonderful collection of pictures of playing fields where you can almost tell there are players on the field--and my collection of pictures of stages is truly impressive with the well lit stage suggesting that somewhere in the picture there are probably performers. While I can tell the tale of what is supposed to be in the picture I am never sure that those who are listening really believe for a minute the wonder and miracle of the event I tried to capture.
To be in the right place at the right time--often great timing has little if anything to do with our own efforts or intentions. The major league baseball that is fouled into your lap--the whale watching expedition on which a whale breeches 25 yards off the bow of the ship on which you are standing--the stock you purchase or sell just before the market proves once again that life is all a matter of timing.
Our gospel lesson for today is the classic example of timing that is retold every year on the Sunday after Easter--we refer to it as the story of doubting Thomas--it is the familiar tale of Jesus making a resurrection appearance to his disciples who were all present except for Thomas (who was called the Twin). Some people just seem to be naturally lucky--they are always in the right place at the right time--and others never seem to catch a break. If a train is going to stop at a rail crossing and block traffic for half an hour there is always one car that was the last car to cross just before the crossing gate fell--and there is always one car that was just one car too late and is stopped by the train for what seems like forever. To be in the right place at the right time might even be described as a blessing.While being in the wrong place at the wrong time--in its worst form is the stuff of tragedy--the innocent victim killed by the terrorist bomb--the child born at a time in history before penicillin--or in a third world nation facing famine and epidemic.
Some of the disciples who followed Jesus were clearly blessed to be in the right place at the right time even when they didn't know what to make of the moment. The disciple Peter clearly was very fortunate that way. He was in the boat when Jesus came walking on the water and in position to step out on the water himself. Peter was close enough to Jesus to in the inner court yard during the Christ's trial--even if that meant he ultimately denied knowing Jesus. And Peter was among the first to see the empty tomb and witness to the resurrection. Peter was present that day that Jesus appeared to the disciples--Thomas was not. Thomas is like any of us who have ever felt we missed out--we would like to be part of the happy party of those blessed by good timing--but we missed. Last Sunday was really great--the music complimented the worship experience so perfectly--the sermon--and especially my children's sermon--were perfect for the day--of course, you had to be there to appreciate what I'm telling you now. It's hard to explain how good the morning felt--was. You had to be there.
Such was the type of message the disciples no doubt delivered to Thomas. No wonder he reacted as he did--with doubts and skepticism. Nothing is that good--and certainly not the unbelievable tale of a risen Christ. The message lives--the promise lives--the word survives--hope remains. This may all be true enough--but Christ is risen? No amount of good timing would seem to be necessary to appreciating this tale--the key in the mind of Thomas is empirical proof--and the most conclusive evidence will be the wounds--the marks of true suffering and death.
Last week I had a conversation with a couple of four year olds. I happened to notice that one of them had a band aid on his hand--I learned long ago that one of the best conversation starters with preschoolers is a band aid--either on you or them. "How did you get that?" I asked. What followed was a story detailing the great pain and suffering this four year old had experienced due to the stupidity of an older sibling's actions. But what was even more interesting was the reaction of several other preschoolers who gathered around to first offer their sympathy and concern--and then to direct my attention to their various injuries, bruises and tales of grave personal trauma. It seemed ultimately that each child was striving to far exceed the first child in the significance and meaning of their tales of bumps and bruises.
As we grow older we become more guarded about sharing our pains--showing our wounds and vulnerabilities--probably because we have not always found the world all that concerned about our suffering or needs.
Thomas was going to cut off any talk about the resurrection Christ--He wanted not just to hear about the triumph over the tomb--he wanted a concrete encounter--to touch the wounds. We periodically receive phone calls at the church from people who are church shopping--They have their questions about the church that they have decided will prove whether we are truly Christian enough for them or worthy of their participation. "What time are your services?" "Do you preach the Bible?" "What kind of music do you use?" "Do you do non--member weddings?" In my ten years at Holy Spirit I have never had anyone ask about the signs of Christ's presence in the congregation. No one has ever asked what we do to witness to the power of the Gospel. And certainly no one has ever asked if we have touched the wounds of Christ.
You see, the trouble with Christ's resurrection is that it was not well documented in the media, histories or even letters of its day. The impact of the proclamation of the resurrection--in words like that of our first lesson--are found in the preaching and teaching of disciples like Peter. Recent cover stories in the news magazines recognized the impact of those who believed in the resurrection--but the hard evidence--the photographs and scientific reports of the wounds are lacking.
In modern day press reporting there is a principle called "off the record." Anything said "off the record" is not attributable and considered of value only as background or insight. The resurrection from the view of history seems at times to be "off the record." It is almost as if the actual appearances by Jesus are "off the record"--intended as background to something more important. Thomas said, "I want it on the record. Show me the wounds. Prove to me the reality of this resurrection report." Wounds and injuries--while they mark and define someone we generally are not eager to actually see them. We may hear the descriptions of human abuse in times of war. We may hear details of torture and human abuse by oppressors of the world But the blood and gore of a wound is hardly the stuff of a happy Sunday morning. There is a part of us that really doesn't want to actually see the wounds.
The good news of the resurrection is often translated into an expectation of a feel good religion. We prefer happy praise songs and entertaining homilies that make us feel good about our selves--that assure us we have not missed any of the goodness God has planned for us.
But the Gospels make a point of telling us that the Word of God is actually intended for the wounded of the world--for those who do not always have the best timing--who did not need to see anyone else's wounds but can unbandage their own share.
Easter was celebrated last week as a reminder of our calling every week--We worship on Sunday--the first day of the week--because that is the day Christ rose from the dead--a new beginning to our week--a new start to our lives. And when Jesus finally appeared to the disciples again, this time Thomas was also with them. The Christ spoke straight to his and our doubts and uncertainties--He invited Thomas to see and to touch the wounds that the world, sin, injustice, hatred and prejudice could inflict.
Thomas responded with his declaration of faith, "My Lord and my God!"
For those who have the eyes of faith it is not all that difficult to see the wounds even today. We live in a society that is often tempted to hide the wounds of our world--a headline story of famine or housing need lasts a week at best but the hunger and need lingers long after the headlines have faded. Our society specializes in creating band aids to make us feel better--We call them things like reforms of welfare but the real needs are many and varied--not easily covered by one size patches. We might prefer to not hear or see that which the risen Christ would reveal to us. But the community of saints at Holy Spirit have grown to embrace a vision that goes beyond the wounds--we have found that God's grace brings healing and wholeness.
That is why yesterday a dozen of our teens gave up a Saturday when they could have been sleeping in or making a few dollars working or practicing with the team, to dry wall a Habitat for Humanity house in Waukegan. That is why other congregation members shopped and prepared meals for dozens more than they normally feed while still other members gave time on a weekend evening to serve the food at the PADS shelter for the homeless of Lake County. The healing of the wounds in our world is found in the seemingly small moments like when the confirmands giving time to work with children of Lutheran Day Nursery in Chicago and grade schoolers take their puppet ministry to nursing homes.
The wounds of the world are healed not by grand miracles but cell by cell in the letter writing campaign of those who work to end world hunger--or those who walk with the CROP Walk to raise a few more dollars to nourish the starving. Our wholeness is also found in the care we give to provide safe places for faith development in our Sunday school--in the loving presence we bring to each other in moments of illness and death.
Touch the wounds--feel the healing. We are in the right place--this is the right time--Easter moments began on Sunday morning--the healing begins here and now--where grace abounds. In bread and wine--the body and blood of Christ is seen and touched once more--wholeness is now ours.
There is so much more that could be said--so many more stories to tell--but as the gospel writer concludes, "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."
This is the right time and place--this is God's time--this is Christ's place.
Amen.