The promise of the resurrection is that the risen Christ will make an appearance in our lives. God lurks on the edges of joy, boredom, loneliness, and despair. And whatever your ordinary looks like, resurrection is just around the corner.

Vicar Anna Helgen
   The Third Sunday of Easter, year C
   text: John 21:1-19

Sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you and peace, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I have a confession to make: I’m experiencing a post-Easter Sunday letdown. There is so much build-up to this important day, so much waiting and watching and witnessing as the events of Holy Week unfold, and then suddenly the big Easter Sunday arrives. We come together to worship, to sing our Alleluias, to enjoy the beautiful flowers, and to celebrate the risen Christ. And then the church empties, as people leave to visit family, have brunch, or in my case, go home to take a long nap on the couch with two cats by my side.

Then Monday morning arrives and I hear echos of the day before: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia. It is still Easter, of course, but my life remains unchanged. Everything seems the same.

So I press on, because that’s what I do. I return to a more normal work schedule. Catch up on household chores I’ve neglected. Mail a birthday card to a relative. Renew my driver’s license. Check in on a friend who is hurting. And then, one day, all of a sudden, the joy of the resurrection appears out of nowhere, and I am overcome with the power of God.

I was driving to work on this particularly dreary morning. It had rained and rained the day before and the sidewalks and streets were still damp.  As I followed the twists and turns of Mississippi River Blvd, I was struck by the greenness of the grass. Lawn after lawn seemed to levitate, popping out from the earth like an image from a Magic Eye book. I noticed tulips and daffodils budding all over the place, pushing their way through old leaves and debris. They were unstoppable! There was new life exploding all around me!

In many ways, it was a completely ordinary day. Just another day…driving the same route to work. But this ordinary day was transformed when I noticed the power of the resurrection at work. I witnessed the power of God, the power of life over death, the power of promise. God was acting in the world to transform a dreary day in my ordinary life into a moment of joy, wonder, and awe. Everything looked different that day because I was oriented again to the newness that God brings to us through resurrection.

I often wonder if the disciples experienced something like a post-Easter letdown. We heard last week that they rejoiced when they encountered the risen Christ. But then what? Did they continue in their celebrations? Were they confused about what to do next? Were they scared of what might happen to them?

The Gospel doesn’t tell us. But Peter gets the idea to go fishing, and the disciples follow. It makes sense that they would do this. After all, they are fishermen and this is the trade that they know and understand. But for experienced fishermen, they have some terrible luck. An entire night of fishing and not one fish to prove it!  I can’t imagine what that felt like. I don’t fish, but I’ve watched my friends fish up at the cabin, and they get discouraged within an hour of not catching a walleye! It must have been a lot worse for the disciples, experienced as they were. Even so, the story seems believable. We all know what it’s like to have a bad day at work!

But then at daybreak, a mysterious figure on the beach encourages them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. And suddenly, out of nowhere, they haul in an abundance of fish—one-hundred and fifty-three of them to be exact.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. And it was there—in the ordinariness of that moment of fishing—that Jesus shows up. The disciples’ discouragement is transformed into joy. Their lack into abundance. The ordinary is made holy. This is the power of the risen Christ. For the disciples, life on the other side of the resurrection is rife with opportunities for transformation, for new life, for abundance.

It takes the disciples some time to figure out that this mysterious figure is Jesus, but once they do they race to shore with their catch, and their friend Jesus invites them to a meal. “Come and have breakfast…and bring some of the fish that you have just caught,” he says. The disciples do as they’re told. And together they share in a seaside potluck.

The promise of the resurrection is that the risen Christ will make an appearance in our lives. We can’t predict when and where, but we can trust that it will happen. In an ordinary moment, God will show up and suddenly everything will be changed. We might see it happening in the lives of others before we see it in ourselves. We might wonder how it will happen or when it will be our turn. But God is with us in those moments of waiting and wondering and in the moments when we recognize clearly God’s resurrection presence. Because God lurks on the edges of joy, boredom, loneliness, and despair. And whatever your ordinary looks like, resurrection is just around the corner.

Our invitation during this Easter season and beyond is to hear what Jesus says to Peter: “Follow me.” We, too, are disciples and are called to follow Jesus. And following him means going to the cross, to the places where there is pain and brokenness. But to follow Jesus also means to follow the risen Christ. It means to bring light and love to ordinary places. It means to celebrate the resurrection joy in the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors. It means to listen for and recognize when Jesus has broken forth in our own lives as well. To follow means to be gathered by the Spirit on Sunday mornings, and then to be sent out to be the hands and feet of Christ for the sake of the world that God loves so much.

John’s Gospel ends shortly after this story with these words: “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” The books continue to be written, my friends! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Amen.

(Click here for an audio version of the sermon.)

Thomas’ core truth is that he is blessed, not that he once doubted, and Christ Jesus likewise comes to us in blessing, no matter where we find ourselves in faith or doubt, confusion or clarity, and we are given peace.

Pr. Joseph G. Crippen
   The Second Sunday of Easter, year C
   text:  John 20:19-31

Sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

This is a story about Blessed Thomas, not Doubting Thomas. We’ve been misinformed.

This is actually a story about the risen Christ, where Thomas is the Blessed One, not the Doubter. Let’s stop using Thomas as a straw man for unbelief and see what’s really going on here.

Thomas missed out on seeing his risen Lord with the others. It’s that simple. They were gathered together, locked away. He was gone. He had the misfortune of missing what everyone else experienced.

Maybe he was gone by choice, maybe he had to be away. Maybe he missed the message passed between the disciples that terrible Friday afternoon, “we’re meeting in the Upper Room, where we were before. Here’s the password.” It doesn’t really matter. He missed it.

So yes, he had his doubts. The combined witness of his sisters and brothers, all of whom saw Jesus alive, didn’t fully convince him. Maybe his frustration at missing it all contributed to that.

But we can’t disdain him. Thomas’ faith and courage are well documented in the Gospels. We would do exceedingly well to be as faithful as he was. Here he’s in the middle of his worst days ever, and he’s struggling. That’s it.

We often hear, “don’t be like Thomas and doubt, believe even if you don’t see.” Our truth is the opposite. Thomas is our hope and our beacon of faith. Despite missing everything, Thomas ends up blessed by the peace and presence of his risen Lord, and finds faith and a future. Thomas is the best news we could have.

Thomas connects deeply with us.

It makes us sad and anxious to be left out. To know that loved ones are gathered and we aren’t there. Imagine his sadness when the others excitedly shared their experience with him.

But it’s more than being left out: it’s hard to handle missing out on learning something important, feeling like others got to know or see something we would have loved to know or see, to get news secondhand.

We can see ourselves in Thomas. Sad, confused, wondering. Wanting to believe Christ is risen and everything is new again, but not having seen it.

How often do we see others who seem to have strong faith and wonder what’s missing in us? Or think, “if only I could have seen something, too, if I had her clarity?” Or even, “what did I miss? Why didn’t I get to see it?”

Thomas is our companion today, not our fool. He stands for us.

But what of Jesus’ saying: blessed are those who do not see and yet believe?

Isn’t this a criticism of Thomas’ doubts? Yes, Jesus says these words. But he says them after giving Thomas peace. After letting Thomas see, offering his hands and his side for evidence. Christ comes to Thomas and gives him exactly what he longed for, to see his beloved Master alive again. That feels like gentle joy and welcome, not criticism.

Then he turns to us, the readers, the watchers, and says: you do not see, and yet you will find faith. You are blessed. As John explains, all this Gospel he has given us is explicitly our Thomas appearance. Because we weren’t there, John has written this, “that [we] may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and, believing, have life in his name.”

This is a story about blessed Thomas, about blessed us. The blessing isn’t in found in our faith or lost by our doubt. It’s Jesus, risen, coming to us.

The risen Christ has provided for us, just like Thomas. And we are blessed.

In God’s Word Christ comes to us and says, “see?” I am with you always. And as you hear me, know me, see me through these words, I give you peace. Like Thomas, you can believe.

In this Meal, Christ comes to us and says, “see?” I told you this is my life, my body and blood, my way of joining you to my death and being with you always.”

Remember, Thomas asks the critical question: “wasn’t he wounded and killed? I need to see those wounds. How can God change death into life?” In this bread and wine, Christ once more shows us his wounded hands and side and says, “this is my love for you, and death can’t stop it. Eat, touch, and believe. Be at peace.”

In this community of faith Christ comes to us and says, “see?” I am with you always in them. And in these others you receive my peace, and like Thomas, you can believe.

If we look even more closely at the risen Christ’s actions, we find another, beautiful blessing.

Christ deeply needs his followers, even after the Resurrection. Eating with them, walking with them, talking with them, the Incarnate One, as he always did before, continues to desire his friends. It feels as if Christ comes to Thomas because he missed Thomas. This reveals the Triune God’s deep desire to be in relationship with us. Our joy is that as much as we miss God’s presence in our lives when we don’t feel it, God even more misses us.

And Christ needs a complete community. Without Thomas, it’s not good. This is so central, that often writers like Paul and John join our Lord in saying that their joy is only complete when the fellowship is complete. Christ is not satisfied until all God’s children are together, all can see God’s grace and receive the peace that passes understanding.

Let’s give thanks for blessed Thomas, who gives us great hope.

Like Thomas, whenever we feel left out, or forgotten, we look up and see our Living Lord smiling and saying, “I’m so glad I found you, I’ve missed you.”

When we don’t understand the pain and suffering of this world, or are afraid of being wounded ourselves in service to God, like Thomas we come here and meet our wounded, crucified, risen Lord who transforms death into life.

When we doubt because we haven’t seen what others have, or fear that faith is harder for us than it should be, or are anxious because we don’t know what to believe, we come here with our sisters and brothers, like Thomas, and Christ comes to us.

And blesses us with peace. So we are ready to join Thomas in being that blessing to the rest of those whom Christ is constantly seeking. Because that’s what’s next for us, and that’s where we’ll really find complete joy.

In the name of Jesus.  Amen

Christ Jesus comes to us wherever we are – faithful or fearful – and gives us the gift of peace, so we know God’s resurrection life is true and real and changing the world, and our lives become credible witnesses to this.

Pr. Joseph G. Crippen
   The Resurrection of Our Lord, year C
   texts: Luke 24:1-12; Isaiah 65:17-25

Sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

How do you know if something is an idle tale or not? 

It’s easy from here to criticize the male disciples, locked away in fear while the women disciples did what needed to be done. Because of their faithfulness, these women heard the good news first. But when they came to the locked Upper Room to tell the good news to their brothers, Luke says they were met with disbelief. “An idle tale,” they heard. “Nonsense. Foolishness.”

Actually, from our perspective, if we’re honest, we might agree with the men. Today we hear bold claims of healing and restoration, powerful promises of life in the midst of death, of God’s new creation of peace and love.

Yet sometimes doubt finds us even this morning. Sometimes we hear, “Alleluia, Christ is risen,” and don’t know what it means for us to reply, “Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” How do those beautiful words sometimes get stuck in our throats because of tears? Or doubts? What if this is an idle tale?

Outside that locked room was a frightening world, that’s why it was locked.

For us, too. If Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of Isaiah’s promised new creation, do we see that? We also fear our world. Every day there are terrorist attacks, and not just in Europe, where Americans only pay attention. Sisters and brothers of ours in this country live under oppression and constant threat of violence many of us do not know, because their skin is a dark color. Or because they weren’t born here. Injustice is as powerful and pervasive here as it ever has been. Wolves and lambs may eat together, Isaiah, but Muslims and Christians find it hard. Especially when American followers of Christ carry guns to church and to the market because they believe the Prince of Peace says they should. Locking ourselves in seems a wise precaution.

Or, if God’s new creation is actually a future thing to hope for, in a life to come, are we any surer of that? Some of you have lost dear ones to death since last Easter, and you long to believe the women’s story. Some of our losses from years past still pain us, and doubt and sadness sometimes still suprisingly wash over us, grief stabs at our hearts, and we wonder, “is this true?”

How do we know an idle tale from a true one?

Let’s start with this new creation.

Because if we pay attention to what Jesus actually said, it seems he expected it would begin here, in this world.

Jesus wasn’t a political Messiah; he didn’t come to lead revolution and overthrow the Roman government. Christ let both secular and religious government kill him.

But the way Christ taught and lived is deeply intended for the life we actually live here. He meant to bring the healing of the nations. He meant to begin a new creation here where not only wolves and lambs would share a meal but also human enemies. Where all had equal access to justice and peace, there was enough food for all, and humanity saw sisters and brothers in everyone. But Christ didn’t plan to achieve this through force, violence, or politics.

Christ Jesus came to win over the hearts of humanity, and so change the world. The love of the Triune God was so committed to this, the Son of God died to win us over in love. By changing the hearts of people – forgiving their wrongs and hatreds and sins, and transforming their hearts into Christ hearts – God’s Messiah intended to begin a new creation.

So maybe we can give a little slack to the disciples who were locked away this morning.

Peter tried to be brave. He came out of the room to see what the women saw. But after looking into the empty tomb, he went right back to the room with the others and locked the door again.

We get that. After leaving the beauty of this liturgy, when we’re back in our homes, and seeing the world be exactly as it was yesterday, it’s tempting to wonder if what we saw this morning meant anything. If it is true, that in rising from the dead, Christ Jesus is beginning a new creation in this life, the healing of the nations, and ending death’s power, it’s often hard to see.

But there is this good news today: Christ does not leave us alone in our fear and doubt, and this is where we learn the difference between the truth and an idle tale.

Everywhere his followers were, the Risen Christ came. That’s the wonder.

Yes, the women saw him first. They bravely went out on Sunday morning and got a great blessing, according to two of the evangelists, for he met them on the road.

But he remembered Peter and the other boys who double-bolted their door. That very evening he came to them, too, and gave peace. Thomas was missing, so a week later, Christ came again.

Then there were those two disciples living close by who weren’t in the Upper Room because they left early in sadness and confusion, and walked home to Emmaus. Christ visited them, too.

It doesn’t matter if we’re faithful or afraid, if we lock ourselves away or boldly go out into the streets, our risen Lord and God will come to us. Will bring us peace. And we will be changed.

That’s the other way we know a true story. By the changed lives of the witnesses.

Wherever the disciples first met the risen Christ, they were changed. Within weeks they dared stand before judges and risk their lives to tell others about the new creation begun in that empty tomb. About what it means that death can’t stop God’s love.

But the world around them looked exactly the same. Still filled with frightening things, frightening people. Still filled with death.

Yet they were changed. Resurrection, God’s life, filled them, and they witnessed bravely and beautifully by their lives to what God is doing.

We still see lives of credible witness to the resurrection of Christ everywhere we look today.

In those beloved elder saints whose lives and words witnessed by hope and faith in God’s resurrection life, even when their lives were hard and painful, those who first taught us to believe, in their eyes we saw the light of Christ’s resurrection as they witnessed.

In the person without a home who came here hungry on a Good Friday evening, forty minutes before liturgy, and found a Cantorei member happy to cook a hot meal for him and make sandwiches to take with him, we see Christ’s resurrection in that witness. So did he, as he witnessed in the note he left behind: “God was here today; gracias por la comida.” “Thank you for the food.”

In those of different faiths who refuse to bend to fear but reach out to each other in the love of the God they both worship, we see God’s resurrection in their witness. In those who stand under oppression in our own city and boldly cry for justice, and expect to see it, we see God’s resurrection in their witness.

In our loved ones who entered death in peace and hope, trusting the women’s story, who knew there is life to come and died witnessing to their faith, we see Christ’s resurrection in their witness.

Our lives are full of people who have seen the Risen Lord and whose lives witness to God’s new creation. That’s how we can tell the truth.

And here is a deeper joy: what we see in those witnesses is happening to us.

Christ comes to us, risen, with life and hope. Like before, Christ’s visits aren’t always long, and there are moments of fear and doubt in between. Those first disciples, while changed, still had moments of doubt afterward. They weren’t superheroes, nor are we. But Christ continues to come to us, give us peace, and tell us all things are being made new. And we are changed.

Even if the world looks the same, we are changed. We become credible witnesses ourselves, as we live lives of resurrection and hope, instead of lives bound by fear and hatred. We have met Christ Jesus, and we know his life. And in the Spirit’s grace our lives are witnesses, and the story goes further into the world.

But if any of you still feel fear or doubt this morning, remember those beautiful words you will say are in bold print in our service folder. We say them together. If “Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia,” gets stuck in your throat for fear or sadness, we will say it with you. Together we will witness to this life we have seen, this new creation we know is coming, and is already begun.

Christ is risen, indeed. And nothing will ever be the same for us again.

In the name of Jesus.  Amen