The Second Sunday of Easter (Year A), April 3, 2005
BCP: Acts 2:14a,22-32 or Gen. 8:6-16; 9:8-16; Psalm 111 or 118:19-24; 1 Pet. 1:3-9 or Acts 2:14a,22-32; John 20:19-31
RCL: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
The second Sunday of Easter, frequently called “Thomas Sunday,” presents us with the “next step” after the resurrection of Jesus. We are called — no, we are pressed hard — to believe in the resurrection. Often the example of Thomas is presented in order to comfort people who have doubts in the resurrection. Such teaching not only misses the point, it is diametrically opposed to it.
It is true that some people who go to church don’t believe that Jesus is really risen from the dead, but that state of unbelief is never, anywhere in scripture, allowed to sit comfortably. On the contrary, Thomas was upbraided by Jesus for not believing until he had proof. “Up to 500 believers at the same time” saw Jesus risen, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:6. This is apparently the largest number of believers who ever saw the risen Lord. Yet more than 2 billion people today claim to be Christians, not to mention the population of believers of previous generations. God’s standard is obviously that people are to believe without proof. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29) is undeniably the normal way of coming to belief.
Why should Thomas be specifically reprimanded by Jesus for failure to believe? Because he had a community of believers among whom to live for “eight days.” Not one of those who had seen or heard of the empty tomb believed that Jesus was risen until they had seen him. In that Thomas was not unique — but he was the first to live in a community of believers, and to Jesus that ought to have been convincing enough for Thomas to believe. This was Thomas’ particular calling. Jesus could not have appeared to the 10 on that first evening, looked around, and asked, “Where’s Thomas?” Our God gives us the dignity of offering ourselves to him of our own free will, for only offerings freely made have value. Yet he urges us tenaciously always to choose him. We are always urged to choose him “on trust” — that is, without proof, for true love never needs proof. Indeed, love is insulted and cheapened if proof is required. There is, however, compelling evidence for the resurrection — something that Thomas had and every generation has had since. Peter describes a believing community in the lesson from his first epistle, the kind of community that draws in all who seek love, confidence, hope and joy. The first evidence for the truth of the resurrection is a community of believers.
Look It Up
What is the “seal” Peter offers in his appeal to the crowd on Pentecost when he urges them to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, risen from the dead? (Acts 2:32)
Think About It
How does the lesson from Genesis match the rest of the lessons appointed for Thomas Sunday?
Next Sunday
The Third Sunday of Easter (Year A), April 10, 2005
BCP: Acts 2:14a,36-47 or Isaiah 43:1-12; Psalm 116 or 116:10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23 or Acts 2:14a,36-47; Luke 24:13-35
RCL: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3,10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
