Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 4/3 at St.Timothy and St. Mark Lutheran Churches. The gospel is John 20:19-31. What comes to mind when you hear today’s gospel? Doubting Thomas, right? After all, it is a story about Thomas and he has a hard time believing, doesn’ t he? One of the greatest lessons I learned in seminary is that in scripture God is always the One who is acting. Look at Jesus’ interaction with Thomas: Is Thomas and his lack of faith the center of the story?   Or is Jesus and his gracious offer of himself to Thomas the center of the story? Let’s look at what God is up to in today’s gospel. The gist of today’s text can be boiled down to these three words: breathe, receive and reveal. Jesus BREATHED on his disciples for them to RECEIVE the Holy Spirit so that he could continue to REVEAL himself. However, before Jesus can breathe on his disciples, he needs to calm them down. They are scared and locked themselves behind closed doors. The di...

This is the e-message shared with St. Timothy Lutheran Church yesterday. These thoughts are based on John 20:19-23, 26-31 . Jesus' Parlor Tricks   The disciples had locked themselves into a room because they were afraid. They couldn't go anywhere because of their fear. Fear, of their own making, was the guard that had locked them up in this prison. You have to sympathize with the disciples. Their Master had just been killed and who’s to say they aren't next?            Look who is here! It's Jesus. Was this some kind of parlor trick? Now you see him; now you don't.  We do not know if Jesus walked through the closed doors or if they opened of their own accord for him or if he just suddenly appeared.              What are the locked doors that prevent us from being all God has called us to be? Is it fear or anger or loneliness or fatigue? None of these doors can kee...