A Few Words On "The Word"

April 23, 2006
The Second Sunday of Easter

John 20: 19-31

Peace: Believing is Seeing
(Not the Other Way Around!)

Dream on! The world don't work that way. If they hit us, we gotta hit them back harder. Matter of fact, if we even think that they might hit us, smart thing to do is to hit them first so they can't. We need that stuff. We'll try buying it from them, but if they won't sell, we're gonna have to make them. So it's really cute that you've joined Peacebuilders. But that's not the way things work.

Oh, yeah? Tell it to Jesus. They sure smacked him down. He didn't smack back. And yet he wins. He rises from the dead. And the first gift from heaven that he gives us? Peace. Sure, it's hard to believe. That's why he has to say it twice. But it's true.

Ain't gonna believe it til I see it. Seeing is believing, right?

Not really. Thomas is this kind of level-headed practical politician. The peace that Jesus gave the others while Thomas was out is so strong, so pervasive, that it draws the Risen Savior back to the community. The faith of the others turns Thomas' doubting into believing. And what does Jesus say? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Seeing isn't always believing. Sometimes, especially when it comes to the important stuff, stuff like loving those who do evil, forgiving those who mess up, responding to violence with nonviolence, sometimes believing is seeing. Sometimes you gotta believe it to see it. Peace isn't just some romantic dream. It's God's gift to all humankind. Believe it so you can see it. See it so you can build it.

Reflection Question

Where in the world or in my own neighborhood is peace breaking out even though nobody ever thought it would?

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