On the Sunday after Easter in 2017, Barbara Brown Taylor was the guest preacher at Duke University Chapel. She chose the scripture passage that we will be reflecting on this Sunday, which is often referred to as the story of “Doubting Thomas.” Of course, the scripture does not actually call Thomas that, and there is more to the story.
Thomas returns to the place where the disciples were gathered after Jesus’ death, and they tell him Jesus appeared to them. Understandably, it was difficult for Thomas to wrap his mind around this. He tells the others that he needs to see the mark and feel of the nails in Jesus’ hands and to put his hand in his side to believe.
As Barbara Brown Taylor notes, “If you think about it, he wasn’t any less trusting than the rest of them… The only reason Thomas got singled out was because he wasn’t there.” Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus right away in the garden, and when she told the other disciples that he was not in the tomb, they had to check for themselves.
However, Jesus’ response was not to chastise or criticize, but to meet them where they were. He helped Mary know him by gently saying her name. He came to Thomas, and reached out his hands and offered his side for him to touch. Jesus came to his disciples with love and grace. We are called to follow his example, and to pay attention to when loving grace appears in our lives.
In our time of worship, we will share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our singers (accompanied by Nara Lee), a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, and the reading by Steven Fort and Tim Fort of the scripture passage based on John 20:19-31. The sermon title is “Then Grace Appears.”
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday.