My Lord and my God!

A brief sermon/reflection for Sunday after Easter Sunday – Year A – 2020

The readings for today are the following:

Acts 5. 27-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1. 3-9
John 20. 19-31

You might like to visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ and enter any of the above readings and selecting the NRSV anglicized version or any other version.

Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for the words you have spoken to us today. We know that your words are words of life and salvation. Open our hearts Father, touch our souls, forgive us our sins, our lack of faith, help us to respond to your word. Help us to find the peace that we seek for in in your Son Jesus whom you have given to us showing us how much we are loved by you.

Amen.

Peter’s testimony – We are witnesses!

Peter tells the high priests and the Jews: “We are witnesses to these things!” (Acts 5.31) and that “we must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5.29)

“We are witness to these things!” This theme is well brought out in the two resurrection appearances of Jesus to the disciples. The first appearance happened on Easter Sunday itself when Thomas was not present, while the second appearance happens eight days later. In both appearances Jesus addresses the disciples with the words: “Peace be with you” twice in the first appearance and once in the second appearance when Thomas was present. (John 20.19, 21, 26)

The doubting Thomas

This is a story we all know right from our Sunday school days, don’t we – Thomas refusing to believe the testimony of his fellow disciples and wanting proof of the resurrection: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20.25)

When he appears the second time Jesus invites Thomas to have the proof he sought for saying to him: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” (John 20.27) And Thomas is touched and blurts out: “My Lord and my God!” This is one of the most outstanding faith declarations in the whole of the Bible and this come from a man who first refused to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. And Jesus says those extraordinary words: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20.29)

The world wants proof!

The world today, as always, wants proof. Science seeks proof. We try to seek the ‘god-particle’ to prove the existence of God. The world is cynical and doubting when they are challenged to believe. They want proofs. We hear people telling us, “I am an atheist, I don’t believe in God!”

“Christianity, then, did not begin as, nor is it best characterised in terms of a pattern of spirituality ( a particular way of sensing the presence of God), a code of ethics (a particular variation on the codes which are, broadly speaking, common to most religions), or even a set of doctrines. Of course, it invites people to experience God’s presence, to know his will, and to believe his truth; indeed, if understood correctly, it must include all three. But it begins as a challenge to allegiance. There cannot be two kings of kings and lords of lords.” (NT Wright, Twelve months of Sundays, Reflections on Bible readings, Year C (SPCK London 2000), 56-57, italics mine)

That is why the exclamation “My Lord and my God” is absolutely fundamental for each Christian and follower of Christ. “You cannot serve God and mammon”, Jesus had taught. He also said: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11.23)

We must choose between the world and Jesus. The world seeks proofs, the world will believe only if it sees, if it touches what it seeks, while as the writer of the Hebrews writes: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11.1)

My Saviour is alive!

The story is told of a sister in a hospital. She used to make her rounds daily through the wards with the sweetest smile on her face. Some of the patients were bemused and surprised that she could be so happy in spite of all the hard work involved with the sick patients. One day a patient, who had been watching this sister who served each one with a smile, plucked up courage and asked her: “Sister, how on earth can you be so happy when there is only death and sickness all around you?” The sister turned to him, with the same sweet smile, said: “Because my Saviour is alive! He is not dead!” The faith of the sister astonished and inspired the patient!

The risen Jesus is alive. He is not dead in the tomb. He is with you. Would you believe in him?

To conclude

Jesus also told the disciples “Receive the Holy Spirit…” (cf. John 20.22-23) When Jesus breathes on the disciples, they receive the Holy Spirit, just like God breathed on Adam and he received life. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit will be given again to the followers of Jesus as the sign of a totally new and true life in God.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to live this new resurrection life of peace, joy and hope. He gives us the Holy Spirit to witness to his resurrection and live in the light of His love and peace. But as Bishop Wright writes: “But it begins as a challenge to allegiance. There cannot be two kings of kings and lords of lords.” (NT Wright, ibid, p.57) That is why Thomas’ exclamation “My Lord and my God” must inspire us to commit our lives to Jesus Christ and give him our total allegiance as Lord and Saviour in all the areas of our lives. We, like Thomas and the apostles, must be “witnesses to these things” (Acts 5.31) and live lives in the Risen Jesus!

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for coming to us at Christmas. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for rising from the dead to give me hope. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you into heart and my life to be my Lord and Saviour. I want to serve you always.

Amen.

[ST Mattapally]