Saturday, April 23, 2022

My Lord and My God!


Second Sunday of Easter

**Please note this service is based on the format of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). Hymns and other prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.

**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.

Introduction to the day

In spite of all we have heard and all we have seen, it is often hard to believe. Because it is hard to believe, we will invest ourselves in the Easter mystery for fifty days (a week of weeks). Because it is hard to believe, John the evangelist will provide sign after sign celebrating Jesus’ victory over death. Because it is hard to believe, the risen Jesus will return to us again and again in the mystery of holy communion, inviting us to touch and taste his presence, and offering us his peace.

Thanksgiving For Baptism

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

In the waters of baptism,

we have passed over from death to life with Jesus Christ,

and we are a new creation.

For this saving mystery, and for this water, let us bless God,

who was, who is, and who is to come.

 

We thank you, God, for your river of life,

flowing freely from your throne:

through the earth,

through the city,

through every living thing.

 

You rescued Noah and his family from the flood;

You opened wide the sea for the Israelites.

Now in these waters you flood us with mercy,

and our sin is drowned forever.

You open the gate of righteousness

and we pass safely through.

 

In Jesus Christ, you calm and trouble the waters.

You nourish us and enclose us in safety.

You call us forth and send us out.

In lush and barren places, you are with us.

You have become our salvation.

 

Now breathe upon this water

and awaken your church once more.

Claim us again as your beloved and holy people.

Quench our thirst; cleanse our hearts; wipe away every tear.

 

To you, our Beginning and our End,

our Shepherd and Lamb,

be honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving,

now and forever.

Amen.

Gathering SongChrist Is Alive! Let Christians Sing (ELW #389)

                        Listen Here

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Canticle of Praise

                        Listen Here

Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God of life, you reach out to us amid our fears with the wounded hands of your risen Son. By your Spirit’s breath revive our faith in your mercy, and strengthen us to be the body of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Readings

A reading from the Book of Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 118:14-29

                        Listen Here

The Lord is my strength and my might;

    he has become my salvation.

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;

    the right hand of the Lord is exalted;

    the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”

I shall not die, but I shall live,

    and recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord has punished me severely,

    but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

    that I may enter through them

    and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

    the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me

    and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing;

    it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!

    O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God,

    and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches,

    up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

    you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.


A reading from the Book of Revelation 1:4-8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds;

    every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him;

    and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.

So it is to be. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

                        Listen Here

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 20:19-31

Glory to you, O Lord.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. 

The Gospel of the Christ.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

May only truth be spoken, and truth received. Amen.

Today’s reading is one of four post-resurrection stories in the Gospel of John.

 

The first is the Easter morning narrative, in which Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and finds the stone removed. She notifies Peter and the Beloved Disciple, who then come but leave for their homes.

 

The second story in John’s Gospel relates the appearance of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene. Those two scenes are verse 1 through 18 in chapter 20.

 

The next two stories make up the reading for today, the Second Sunday of Easter.

 

The first takes place on the evening of Easter Day, an appearance of Jesus to his disciples, when Thomas is absent. This scene opens with the disciples gathered at a house in the evening of Easter Day in or near Jerusalem.

 

The second narrates an appearance of Jesus to his disciples a week later when Thomas is present.

 

No explanation is given for the gathering of the disciples. The reason for the disciples to meet behind locked doors is fear, but the effect upon us as we hear the story is that we anticipate a miracle. We are not disappointed. The resurrected Jesus appears miraculously.

 

Jesus appears in the midst of the disciples and gives them the common Jewish greeting: “Peace” (or “Shalom”). He identifies himself by showing his hands and side. The reaction of the disciples is one of rejoicing.

 

A commissioning follows. Jesus says that he had been sent by God, which leads into the “Johannine Pentecost”.

 

According to the Fourth Evangelist, the gift of the Spirit was bestowed on the evening of Easter Day itself, not on Pentecost some seven weeks later, as Luke has it. The disciples are immediately commissioned and given the Spirit as a power that will enable them to witness to Christ.

 

Then the authorization to forgive sins completes the series of events on Easter Day.

 

All of these events are quite important, but it is the next scene that I’d like to examine today.

 

That scene opens with the disciples gathered again in the house on the following Sunday, but this time Thomas is present.

 

After Jesus first appeared to the disciples, they told an absent Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord. Thomas was emphatic about not believing unless he had the same experience.

 

When Jesus later comes again to the house where the disciples were hiding, he invites Thomas to see and touch the wounds in his hands and side.

 

He does not humiliate Thomas but gives him what he needs.

 

Thomas confesses: “My Lord and my God!”

 

The final verse of the scene is a bit tricky. Jesus’ lays out a final beatitude, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

 

Is Jesus rebuking Thomas for not believing without seeing?

 

But Thomas didn’t doubt Christ, he doubted his followers.

 

He doubted those that gave witness to the risen Christ, perhaps because they showed no evidence.

 

Thomas gets a lot of flak for doubting Jesus’ return, but the rest of the disciples were no different.

 

They didn’t believe Mary when she announced that she had seen Jesus. Instead, two of them ran to the tomb to see it with their own eyes.

 

They didn’t believe Jesus when he appeared to them in the room. They needed him to show his scars.

 

Even after encountering the risen Christ, they were locking themselves in a room. Is there any wonder that Thomas didn’t believe them?

 

He had to ask questions; he had to make sure.

 

So, is Thomas really all that different from the rest of the disciples?

 

John doesn’t say why Thomas isn’t in the room for the initial appearance of Jesus.

 

It is assumed that Thomas was a doubter and lost his faith when Jesus died on the cross.

 

But put yourself in Thomas’ shoes.

 

How would you feel after watching your teacher, mentor, friend die such a gruesome death?

 

Maybe Thomas preferred to grieve alone so chose not to go to the upper room with the rest of the guys?

 

What if Thomas, after watching Jesus die on the cross, wasn’t in the room with the others because he had already gone back to his life?

 

Does that make Thomas a doubter, or a realist?

 

Thomas has been told by Jesus himself that by seeing Jesus he has seen God. So, when the disciples tell him three days after the crucifixion that they have seen Jesus alive, is it any wonder he wants to see for himself?

 

He knows what seeing Jesus means. Seeing Jesus means seeing God.

 

Ah, yes, you might say, but he doesn't just want to see him, he says he will not believe until he does see him.

 

But, here again, we see Thomas actually being faithful to Jesus. Because Jesus has told the disciples, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and 'The time is near!' Do not go after them." (Luke 21:8).

 

Thomas will not be led astray. He's going to test. He must see for himself. After all, seeing is believing. He must ask questions; he must make sure.

 

Ultimately, Thomas is both the one who sees and believes that Jesus has risen and the one who has not seen, but believes beyond seeing that Jesus is Lord.

 

I can relate to Thomas. I am a questioner, a doubter. My path to standing here today is full of doubt, and questions, and searching. I have never stopped asking questions.

 

Does that make me less faithful to Christ, to God? Some might say so, but Jesus himself tells us to not accept things on blind faith.

 

Truly, doubt is the pathway to faith.

 

When we doubt, we probe, question, and search.

 

Perhaps Thomas started with doubt, but he ended with the greatest testimony of the disciples, “My Lord and my God!”

 

In Thomas, we see the pattern of Christian evangelism established from the beginning of John’s Gospel. One person encounters Jesus. Then they share their experience with the next person, who may express some reluctance. Then that person experiences Jesus on their own and becomes convinced about him and then shares the news about Jesus with the next person.

 

Andrew tells Peter.

 

Philip tells Nathanael.

 

The Samaritan woman tells the townspeople.

 

“Come and See” is the refrain.

 

With respect to the witness of the resurrected Jesus, Mary Magdalene starts it off. She encounters Jesus, shares the news; the others don’t really buy it until they have their own experiences so that they can own the experience.

 

They become convinced and then share it with Thomas. Like the other disciples, Thomas doesn’t come to the fullest faith until he has his own experience.

 

Then the story moves through the chain, and you and I are up next.

 

Thomas makes his confession and, through this text, testifies to us. Now what will we do?

 

Will we hang in there with some level of interest and commitment until we encounter Jesus in a way that moves us to the next level?

 

What evidence do we show that there is a risen Christ?

 

If all we do is lock ourselves in rooms (sanctuaries, churches, institutions), then why would anyone believe that we have been changed by a miraculous experience?

 

Do we actually believe that Jesus breathes the Spirit into us, asking to work on being disciples ourselves and then going into the world to talk about the faith and life we have in Christ?

 

Or do we prefer to sit in our locked rooms commiserating about what used to be?

 

If nothing else, I hope that the story of Thomas shows us that Jesus’ plan is not for us to sit in a locked room by ourselves.

 

In the end, it’s not Thomas’s doubting that matters; it’s his believing.

 

Everybody doubts; not everyone believes.

 

Jesus addresses us who have not been eyewitnesses to the resurrection. We are also blessed when we believe.

 

As John affirms, the whole of the gospel is given to us to help us believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and to have new life in his name.

 

If we are unable to talk openly and clearly about the life Christ has called us to, then we will never be able to share that message with friends, family, neighbours, and others that we meet each day.

 

We will be less likely to believe the promise of new life that Jesus gives us.

 

And we will be unable to share with others why our faith is meaningful to us.

 

A life of discipleship calls us to our own spiritual growth, but also to sharing that faith.

 

We need to unlock the doors and stop hiding in familiar spaces hoping the rest of the world won’t bother us. If we take resurrection seriously, then we need to boldly and faithfully walk into the world knowing that God is waiting for us, working with us, and blessing us as we minister to all of God’s creation.

 

And we need to trust in the promise that God has already brought us into a new life.

 

I pray that we become a believing Thomas. That while we may start in doubt, we become awestruck and moved to proclaim to world “My Lord and my God!”

Amen.

Hymn of the Day Robe of Calvary

                        Listen Here

Nicene Creed

Let us confess our faith as we say together the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Set free from captivity to sin and death, we pray to the God of resurrection for the church, people in need, and all of creation.

Holy One who acts righteously, equip your church as witnesses of your goodness to go and tell others of your abundant love, that they may believe that Jesus is our salvation and life.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Renew your people’s commitment to use resources responsibly and to live well with your creation. Invite us to recognize and nurture signs of resurrection life in the natural world.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Direct those who are given human authority to lead with humility and compassion. We pray especially for our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and our Premier Heather Stefanson. By your Holy Spirit channel their attention toward serving those who are most in need.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Uphold your children who cry out to you. Wherever people are overcome by the fear of death, breathe into them your life and peace.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Inspire those who lead your people in worship and praise. We pray for the National Lutheran Bishop Susan Johnson, the Anglican Primate Linda Nicholls, the Interim Indigenous Archbishop Sidney Black, the MNO Synod Bishop Jason Zinko, the Diocese of Rupert’s Land Bishop Geoff Woodcroft, and all clergy and lay leaders within our parishes. With joyful motion and sound, send us forth with praise that we cannot keep to ourselves.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Give us the words of your saints who, like Thomas, boldly confessed your Son as Lord and God. With Jesus our leader, empower us to live according to his ways.

God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

In your mercy, O God, respond to these prayers, and renew us by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Amen.

Peace 

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Offering Hymn – Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen! (ELW #377)

                        Listen Here

Offering Prayer

Let us pray.

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

Dialogue

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Preface 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ,

the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin;

who in dying has destroyed death,

and in rising has brought us to eternal life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection,

with earth and sea and all their creatures,

and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy

                        Listen Here

Thanksgiving at the Table

Holy, living, and loving God,

we praise you for creating the heavens and the earth.

We bless you for bringing Noah and his family through the waters of the flood,

for freeing your people Israel from the bonds of slavery,

and for sending your Son to be our Redeemer.

We give you thanks for Jesus

who, living among us,

healed the sick,

fed the hungry,

and with a love stronger than death,

gave his life for others.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore,

his life-giving death and glorious resurrection,

we await your promised life for all this dying world.

Breathe your Spirit on us and on this bread and cup:

carry us in your arms from death to life,

that we may live as your chosen ones,

clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Through him all glory and honor is yours,

Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,

in your holy Church,

both now and forever.

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen

Invitation to Communion

This is the table of Christ. It is made ready for those who love him, and for those who want to love him more. Come, whether you have much faith or little, have tried to follow, or are afraid that you have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will that those who want to meet him, might meet him here. These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Share in the Eucharist.

Table Blessing

The body and blood of our Lord

Jesus Christ strengthen you and

Keep you in his grace.

Amen.

Prayer After Communion

As we have feasted around the table, let us pray.

We give you thanks, generous God,

for in this bread and cup

we have tasted the new heaven and earth

where hunger and thirst are no more.

Send us from this table as witnesses to the resurrection,

that through our lives, all may know life in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Blessing

God, the Author of life,

Christ, the living Cornerstone,

and the life-giving Spirit of adoption,

bless you now and forever.

Amen.

Sending Song – A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing! (ELW #393)

                        Listen Here

Dismissal

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Go in peace. Tell what God has done.

Thanks be to God.

No comments:

Post a Comment