Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
April 19, 2015
Texts: 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
Canon Dan Wagner
There is a picture I have seen floating about on the internet with the word fear attached to it.
Actually, the picture is of a mural. The mural is painted on a bridge. It is very large. The
background is white and the words are in large, bold, black text. The mural simply reads, “Fear
is a liar.” Fear is a liar. Fear of our future and the things that we think about far often outweigh
what actually happens. Perhaps we might be called pessimists for fearing the worst in a
situation. Perhaps we are just “contingency planning” as I like to call it. We plan for the worst
outcome, while hoping for the best to happen.
We have fearful moments that add anxiety to our lives. We may be worried about our retirement
funds. We might have fear about what to do with a loved one’s medical situation. We might
worry if our kids will make it into the “right” college. That fear about getting into the right
college has seeped into our youth, even those in middle school!
Even though that mural says fear is a liar, fear really makes us act in ways we might not
normally act. It can cause fight or flight responses. Think of Peter; he takes his fear and
fights—cutting of the ear of a slave when Jesus is arrested. Thomas’ response is to take flight.
As we discussed this last week, Thomas ran away when Jesus was arrested. He was not there
when he was executed. Nor was he with the other disciples when Jesus was with them in the
upper room.
We long to find peace, joy, and certitude in a world that is anything but that. Instead, we can
have fear, hurt, and uncertainty.
It is God that provides Jesus to step into the breach of all our fears and probing questions. God
loves us in ways that surpass our understanding. Why God loves us is also beyond us. But God,
from the very beginning loved His creation and created us in His likeness. Even in all that we do
that is so sinful, so straining of our relationship with God, God still loves us.
God gave us Jesus and his message of love: Love for God and for one another.
To that end, in our gospel for today, Jesus asks his disciples why they are afraid when they see
him. The disciples’ fear is two-fold. First, they are afraid of Jesus because they knew he had
died and was resurrected. But the disciples did not expect him to live again. So there is the fear
of trying to understand what all has happened to Jesus.
And the second fear for the disciples is the fear of Jesus’ retribution. The disciples had failed
Jesus. In the confusion of his arrest, trial and execution, the disciples disappeared and did not
lend a helping hand to their teacher. They were ashamed of what they did and were awaiting
Jesus’ punishment. They were expecting it, after all, that was the way of justice they had
witnessed in their own lives. But with Jesus, his immediate statement to them is “Peace.” There
was no punishment, only release of a fear that had gripped them.
The good news for us is that even when we disappoint God and hurt Him, he still says, “peace be
with you.” This is very good news for us, as we all strive to live into Christ’s teachings and our
Baptismal vows as Christians. Unfortunately, we also do a great job of failing to live into those
teachings and vows. Yet, we are greeted by Jesus’ peace when we earnestly come to him.
Our Epistle reading reminds us that we are children of God. That means we are members of a
Christian family. What does it mean to be a Christian family? Our family is made up of
Christians, not just in this parish or who are Episcopal or who are in the Anglican Communion.
Our Christian family stretches throughout the universal church. This is our family!
Of course, the problem with family, is… well, family. Let’s face it, we are a bit dysfunctional
and fail to show our love at times. But we cannot do harm to a family member. After all, when
we are in need, it is our family member who comes to our aid.
As family, we are blessed to receive an inheritance and are called to work in the family business.
Our inheritance is forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Our responsibility is to worship, serve
others, to evangelize. All of us have different work to do. Our spiritual gifts help us to
accomplish our work.
A challenge for us is that we love to think about our awesome inheritance, but we do not always
want to do the work.
Another challenge for us is the fear for us Christians that we can forget we are part of God’s
family. We fear that we are not a redeemed Christian. That is why we need those good family
relationships and it takes so much work!
So where do we go from here? We know we are children of God. We know of Jesus’ atoning
work on the cross for the whole world. We know that Jesus greets us with his peace, just like
with his disciples. He will not punish us for our fear, just like with the disciples. We know that
we are still mired in fear, uncertainty, and even sin. Yet, just like the disciples, we are forgiven
and we are called to proclaim to the whole world the repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’
name.
This means we have much work to do. We have opportunities to bring God’s love to people.
We have fears to tackle. This means we get to step out in faith, in spite our fears, and tell others
about the joy, peace, and wholeness we have as we live out our call as children of God. We get
to tell and show others that fear is indeed a liar and faith in God through Jesus trumps it.
So it is time to go to work in the family business, ever mindful of our inheritance. Amen.