Second Sunday of Easter Acts 4: 32-35 John 20: 19-end

For some people getting into trouble just happens once, or maybe twice. For others it is almost a way of life. Virtually everything that they touch or do causes them to get into trouble – “can’t do right for doing wrong”. If one is lucky the misdemeanour will soon be forgotten, wiped away never to be brought up again. For others the wrong-doing will be remembered for years and years – “do you remember what happened last time?”

During Holy Week we listened to the reading telling us about Peter. He followed Jesu after his arrest and loitered in a courtyard to see what would happen. Unfortunately for him he was recognised as one of the followers of Jesus. Upon being acknowledged as one of the followers he denied the claim. He was fearful of his life. There was a great danger that he too would be arrested alongside Jesus. Here Peter was in trouble. Three time over in fact because he denied knowing Jesus three times. For this Perter is remembered not only for the years of his own generation but for centuries afterwards. No doubt he will be remembered for this, not for just a short while, but for the whole of Christianity.

Now we have another one who has eternal remembrance thrust upon him. Poor old Thomas. He missed the boat when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. He would not believe the evidence of his fellow disciples when they told him about the Risen Lord. He required the evidence of his own hands. Doubting Thomas became his known name, and he carries that with him also throughout eternity.

Do we wish similar notoriety? Do we wish to be remembered throughout the future alongside people like – well, choose one yourself. A name remembered for their evil ways and there are plenty of them. Or would you prefer to be remembered for your acts of kindness, alongside Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale and so on. These are people who will be remembered for years and years.

Thomas gained his notoriety because he did not believe what his fellow disciples were telling him. Jesus had risen. Not only that but Jesus had approached them in the room that they were hiding in. They had seen Jesus with their own eyes. But he would not believe. He wanted to see for himself. He wanted to touch the wounds. Until he did he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Two thousand years have now passed since this episode with Thomas. In that time hundreds of millions of people have read the witness of the disciples of Jesus. They have read of the works of the disciples which they did following their encounter with the Lord. Looking back through history some believers in turn became well known, giving their life through martyrdom, through a great ability to teach of the faith. It is this that strengthened all of them. Their faith. A faith that has transcended time, passed from generation to generation.

We are a part of that faith line. From the moment that we learnt for ourself of Jesus we become a part of the chain of faith that is travelling through time. Yes, time travel is possible! At least it is when we look at the Christian faith.

Jesus Christ is Risen! It was proclaimed around the world last week. Our hearts rejoice that Jesus is showing us the way. He has passed through death and has shown us the way. This is our faith. It is a faith that has been handed down from generation to generation. It is a faith that continues. We have played our part and shared our faith with others. In so doing the faith ‘pool’ grows.

Jesus appeared to the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” It is a normal everyday eastern greeting. But its meaning is far deeper than ‘May you be saved from trouble’. It means ‘May God give you every good thing’. It is this peace that we pass to each other Sunday by Sunday.

Alleluia Christ is Risen! Alleluia

Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,

you have given your only Son to die for our sins

and to rise again for our justification:

grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness

that we may always serve you

in pureness of living and truth;

through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.