Extravagance

 John 20:19-31

Reconciliation is what we pray for this week in the collect. We have just completed several weeks of Taizè prayer where our goal is to think about it. With this scripture mostly you hear about it from Jesus' point of view in coming back and appearing to the doubting Thomas, but this time lets think about it from Thomas' viewpoint.

Thomas may feel left out of the community. Jesus appears when he is not present. Why would Jesus pick the moment Thomas was not around to appear and breath on everyone? Why would he be left out? Or maybe it is to show us something else.

Reconciliation is a two way street. If I decide I'm not going to accept your reaching out, I don't have to respond back. Like for instance in a feeding ministry. Some have the misconception you do a feeding ministry to gain people in the church. I've even seen some churches go so far as to make people come to the church in order to receive their food. This is not a true ministry of reconciliation though. The much harder ministry is in freely giving away the food and not only that, but by becoming invested in the communities needs. This means talking with people and letting our lives come together and finding out what other needs there might be. This is a more whole approach and it asks for each participant to talk with and hear one another.

Now back to Thomas. Thomas decides to stick around. He doesn't sulk in another place or decide since Jesus didn't appear to him something is wrong and he rejects the whole group. Instead he stays in the community. Not only does he stay, when Jesus finally appears without hesitation, without blame, without touching him he kneels and proclaims Jesus is his Lord and God. Thomas stays in the community and is touched by the presence of Jesus.

This is the thing about reconciliation, you have to be willing to stay in community. This is hard for us to imagine today where we cut people out of our families, friends list, and community because they think something different from us. Our examples on the public stage don't give us a better example to follow either. Jesus does. Stick in there even when you feel despised or rejected. Hang in there even when everyone is telling you something you don't believe yet. Stay with it even when you don't see eye to eye. Because isn't that what holy week was all about?

Jesus is betrayed from within the community. He prays for the community knowing this. He is denied and left alone by the community for fear of their life. And when it is time to rise and come back he appears to this very community. Not to a new one. Not to just the ones he chooses. To the whole community in different times and places to breath on them and give them the push to stay in community.

This is our example. This is our Easter pattern. Now go and do likewise.