Second Sunday of Easter

Psalm: Psalm 133
Acts: Acts 4:32-35 
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Epistle: 1 John 1:1-2:2

Today we continue the season Easter, which runs from now through Pentecost. Thus our Gospel reading this week immediately follows the episode of last week between Mary Magdalene and Jesus on Easter morning and still takes place on that first Easter Sunday. That evening, Jesus appeared to the disciples in a locked room, encouraged them, and in the Gospel of John immediately breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Of course, we are all familiar with the fact that Thomas for some reason missed that first encounter and brashly proclaimed that he would never believe in Jesus' Resurrection unless he could touch the nail-pierced hands and place his hand in Jesus' side. Although we have heard this story many times, we can't forget that Jesus goes out of his way to engage Thomas and invite him into the community. He confronted Thomas right where he was, but then immediately moved to grace and an offer of community.

This episode reminds me of one that happens a few verses later when Jesus again meets his disciples, this time on the shores of Galilee. Jesus builds a charcoal fire--probably much like the one Peter stood before when he denied Jesus before his death. John describes each fire that same and I don't think it is a coincidence that Jesus built the fire and chooses that place to both confront Peter with his betrayal and to both extend grace and to let him know that he is welcome to be in the community and to even lead it.

This theme of community runs throughout our other readings as well. In Psalm 133, the virtue of brotherly community is extolled. The imagery used, that of the oil flowing down Aaron's beard and the dew from Mount Hermon coming down to Zion, are signs of overflowing blessing. Through Aaron's lineage, the high priests, God provided blessing and mediated his relationship to the Israelites. Mount Hermon is one of the highest mountains in Israel and snow is usually on it year around. So thus it provides dew for crops and snow run off to the Jordan River-sources of life, wealth, and blessing. These metaphors are well chosen and represent just how important community is to to live a "good" and "pleasant" life in the words of the Psalmist.

Very briefly, Acts 4:32-35 presents an idyllic picture of the community in the early church. We know it is an idyllic picture because in the very next chapter is filled with deceit, greed, and death because Annias and Sapphira lie when the bring their offering. But for these 4 verses, everything appears to be perfect in the fledgling church and there are no interpersonal conflicts or issues. It kind of reminds me of all the movements, revolutions, and "Occupy" events that have happened across the world recently. In each of these instances, things start out with passion and single-mindedness, but as time goes on reality strikes and people discover things have to actually get organized and then egos get involved and things get difficult-conflict arises.

With worldly organizations, so with the Church as well, unfortunately. We may follow a perfect holy God, but the Church is run by imperfect sinful people. Soon after the incident with Ananias and Sapphira there are conflicts between Peter and Paul, Peter and some other Jews, Paul and Barnabus, and no doubt many others not recorded. The point I want to make, and one that Acts continues to make, is that despite external persecution and internal conflicts, God continues to advance his Kingdom thorough his people.

Despite all the issues with people and relationship, (we all know it is always the other person is at fault; it is never my problem!) God has created us to be in community with him and others. We are created in the image of God, and even God in his very nature is relational. God exists forever as Triune, three-in-one. In the good times and the bad times we need each other, this concept is not hard to understand. But even when community gets tough, our relationships witness to the new life being formed in Christ. We don't abandon our church, our friends, our spouses in the midst of struggle; we cling closer to them through Christ and because of Christ. And this concept is hard to understand and even harder to live.

This is the challenge for me this week and all of us. When relationships get hard, when there is that one really annoying person in your small group, or when suddenly through an unexpected event life takes a bad turn or a friend overnight becomes needy, these are times we need to draw close to God to extend his love to others. No doubt we can all think of a few examples in our lives where God needs to work in our relationships. Let us be open to how God can speak to us and use us to work redemptively in our relationships.

Grace and Peace.