In the Name of the Living God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
What makes you afraid? What are your fears?
For the fourth year running, Chapman University in California has run its “Survey of American Fears,” polling 1,200 adults from across the country about our fears and what keeps us awake at night. A few of the most frequent fears are: nuclear war with North Korea, not having enough money in the future, high medical bills, corrupt politicians, terrorism, and being a victim of a random mass shooting.
Christopher Bader is one of the researchers who compiled these “American fears,” and he noted that, “We are beginning to see trends that people tend to fear what they are exposed to in the media. Many of the top 10 fears this year can be directly correlated to the top media stories of the past year.” I have to tell that fact alone strikes more fear in me than anything on the list!
I believe we live in a culture of fear! And I can’t stand it!
And I believe Christians, followers of Jesus, can be just as fearful as the culture around us. In fact, even in the face of the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, I believe followers of Jesus can still be fearful.
In the Gospel according to St. John, we learn today that “When it was evening on that day (i.e., that means the very same day of the resurrection),” the disciples were huddled together, and St. John tells us that “the doors of the house where the disciples had met were shut for fear.” Despite learning that their Lord lives, as He promised, they were afraid! “Death is conquered, man is free, Christ has won the victory,” yet they are scared to death!
I suppose our first impulse is to say their fear was completely reasonable – after all, they saw what happened to Jesus! I suppose it makes sense, then, to legitimize their fear. We might also say they were afraid for their lives and for the safety of their families. That works for me.
But, if we insist on an accommodating view of their fear, how do explain the fact that two sentences later, which is set a full 8 days later – after they rejoice at His appearing, He gives them the Holy Spirit and sends them into the world – those same disciples are still huddled together with the doors locked?
St. John is clear: “Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut.” That means locked!
Perhaps there is more to their fear than first meets the eye. Perhaps there is more to my fear and to your fear!
Fear locks all doors. And I’m not talking about the front door of the house; I’m talking about the doorway to our hearts!
And fear isn’t the only thing that deadbolts the door to our hearts.
Don’t forget about guilt. Have you noticed that guilt doesn’t follow the liturgical year – it doesn’t care if this is Eastertide or not.
Are you wrestling with some guilt over something you’ve done or left undone? Maybe it was years ago. I’ve met many so-called Christians who are! I even see one in the mirror from time to time!
Grudges don’t tend to follow the calendar either. Are you still mad at your dad? Are you still mad at your husband, your wife, your daughter? After all this time? I’ve met many so-called Christians who are! I even see one in the mirror from time to time!
The good news of Easter is this: no locked door is too big – nor is any problem too great – that the Risen Jesus can’t handle it!
And it gets even better. When Jesus appears – when he dwells among them and among us – He doesn’t bang on the door. He doesn’t demand that they unlock the door. He doesn’t wait outside the door, telling them to get their acts together before He enters. And He doesn’t scream as He comes down the hallway. That’s how I do it at home! He doesn’t even ring the doorbell.
His love and His grace just walks right through the locked door! And when He does, he says, to them and to us, “Peace be with you.”
Charlie Rich, the classic country star, said, “No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.” That’s not true; that’s not true at all. Thanks be to God that one man knows exactly what goes on behind closed doors, and only He – the risen, healing and loving Lord – can enter in and set us free!
I was recently reading a fascinating article about how a group of concerned citizens broke into an FBI office in the early 70s. What they removed revealed J. Edgar Hoover’s secret spying programs. Several hours before they planned to break in, one of them wrote a note and taped it to the office door they wanted to enter. The note read, “Dear Security, please don’t lock this door tonight.”
Guess what? Sure enough, when they arrived, the door was unlocked! They went in and removed the records, and they happily went home. Years later one of the burglars confessed in an interview that it took all of his might not to tape a thank-you note on the door!
I beseech you this Easter, in the name of the Risen Christ – put the same reminder on your hearts – “Please don’t lock this door tonight!”
But, even if you have an auto-lock on your heart and even if fear somehow jumps up and flips the lock, if guilt puts on the chain and grudges step up and turn the deadbolt, just remember that the Risen Jesus delights in walking right through the door to give us the peace we long to know. “Peace be with you.”
That’s why He came to earth to live as one of us, to minister and to heal, to die on a cross for our sins, and to rise on the third day! He did it all to put skin on love!
“Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid!”
Sermon preached by the Rev. Charleston D. Wilson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
2nd Sunday of Easter
8 April 2o18