Seeing is Believing?~ Rev. Beth Dobyns

Texts: John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a,22-32, Psalm 16, I Peter 1:3-9 

        There are several variations of saying, “Prove it!”  There is the Missouri version of “Show me;” there is the “I’ll have to try it first” or “taste it first” or “I’ll have to drive that car first to see if it’s as good as you say.”  “I’m unconvinced,” “I’m skeptical,” “I’m unsure,” and on and on.

        Then we are reminded of the story of Thomas, the disciple who gets a bad rap because he says, “Unless I see it, I won’t believe it,” speaking of the wounds that Jesus suffered on the cross. He has the nickname, of course, of Doubting Thomas.

But if we look carefully at this scriptural telling of his encounter with the risen Christ, Thomas may not be doubting eternal truth; instead he wonders/doubts the reports of his friends, according to Gennifer Benjamin Brooks at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary.  We have often conflated those two pieces of the doubting Thomas picture, creating that Missouri idea of “Show Me—or Seeing is believing.”  Certainly resurrection was not a common experience for Thomas and the disciples; so to hear reports of an empty tomb and the presence of the risen Christ among the disciples was just too much to hear at that point for Thomas.

        We might resonate with that thinking.  Even though Jesus spent his life showing, teaching, and encouraging the world, his presence after a very public death on a cross could make the disciples and us wonder. Even though Jesus has shown us the way to live in the light of the love of God, we can’t help ourselves from turning to the pull of doubt. Thomas and the disciples were just overwhelmed by what had happened in the world and they understood they were deeply connected with the life and times of Jesus. They could not automatically turn wishful thinking into absolute belief.  Jesus stood among them and spoke, “Peace be with you….” What the disciples, and Thomas needed to hear!

        The disciples desperately needed to hear and know this peace. It is the same for us this day—we long for, we need to realize the peace that only comes from the risen Christ.  Brooks says, “It is a situation that is common to all of us as human beings that when fear takes hold of us, we can do little or nothing to overcome it ourselves.”  The world has certainly gone on to create so many things and situations that bring fear to rest on our souls.  But the fact remains—we realize fear just as the disciples did, generations ago hiding behind a locked door wondering what would happen to them next.  We realize fear just as Thomas did as he was frightened enough to suggest that the identity of Jesus would have to be proven to him before he would allow himself to believe and be sure. After all…that could feel like a too-good-to-be-true situation.

        Isn’t that the way it is with us, at least on some days?  We find ourselves in increasingly violent, hurtful, and confusing times in our lives, and we wish for that enduring peace that Jesus brings. Surely we realize we can’t bring about that holy peace ourselves. It has not been lost or changed; however, we have allowed ourselves to let some of these other forces try to take the power or peace from us.  We confess that we might say that when we read or listen to news reports; we are fearful of all kinds of decisions and practices in our lives—regardless of what we agree or disagree with; we are fearful of how we live in the world—are we making good choices for our own health, are we seeking the best in ourselves and others.  Just show me! Then I’ll know what’s really happening, then I’ll believe what you say. 

        Jesus understands who we are and how we think.  And so Jesus, our risen Christ, comes to simply bring us the holy peace for which we are desperate.  Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” 

Over the course of several scriptures, Jesus appears to those who knew and loved him in the simple, everyday moments—

* in a room of fearful people who were feeling rather forsaken

* on the way to another town…walking beside

* breakfast on the beach

always offering the breath of peace, the certainty of the love of God, and the hope that leads us to design our lives so that we might follow Jesus’ teachings.

        We are called to follow Jesus, but it is for us to seek a pattern, a way to practice this kind of faithful living, to let go of the doubts that would hinder our belief. 

A colleague of many years reminded me recently of the Body Prayer of Julian of Norwich.  She sought to share strength and peace with all people.  You may have heard her call to peace, “All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.”  I must admit that I have been less than receptive to the truth of that saying at times when it could have tamed anger at a situation or conversation.  We all need help!

The Body Prayer of Julian of Norwich was created after a season of great suffering and pain…a way to pray even without words.  Perhaps it can be helpful to us all as we look for a way we can pray without waiting for the proof, the need to see to believe We know that God loves us and hears us.  In four “intentions” or parts, this is the prayer:

        AWAIT—await God’s presence, however it may come to you

(hands at waist, cupped up to receive.)

        ALLOW—Allow a sense of God’s presence to come…or not…and be what it is. (reach up—hands open).

        ACCEPT—Accept as a gift whatever comes or does not come.  Accept that you don’t know everything, that you are not in charge. (hands at heart, cupped toward body.)

        ATTEND—attend to what you are called to, willing to be present and be God’s love in the world, however God calls you.

(hands outstretched, ready to be responsive.)

        It’s not that we want to get away from the all-too-human desire for proof, and the occasions when we have doubts. Jesus does not need to prove anything to us, but in his care and love, he understands us even when we are afraid and we don’t trust ourselves to believe and to lay hold of the life-changing love that has brought resurrection.

        It is worthy and worshipful work to make use of any practice or word of encouragement and hope.  May we be willing to remember the strong and sure name of Jesus and the light of love and life that Jesus brings to us. 

Together, perhaps we might consider using this among our many approaches to prayerful conversations that bring us ever closer to the love of God in Christ Jesus.  May this help us focus our thoughts, even in a bodily translation. We seek to be hopeful and faithful in our thoughts and in our intentions.  Seeing is believing!  May we rejoice in knowing that the living, risen Christ is among us this day and always.  Amen!