April 16, 2023 – Easter +1A, Luke 24:13-35

“As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Luke 24:28-35

Maybe we shouldn’t be talking about Thomas’ skepticism this morning — yes he is known for his doubts — but perhaps we should be talking about his absence. Without knowing it, Thomas is not only the poster child for people who have questions, doubts and the skeptics — Thomas is also the poster child for those who disappear after Christmas and Easter —- and other times throughout the year. The first thing we learn about the disciples in our reading today is that they have locked themselves away as if thrown into their own tomb. Well, all of the disciples except Thomas. Maybe he has locked himself up in his home — afraid to be even seen with the other disciples. So what I want to know is: “Where is Thomas?” 

No matter, all of the eleven disciples are scared to death — so they have locked themselves away in their own tombs. In many ways, this picture of those post-Easter disciples is just like many modern churches today — the faithful few who happen to come to church on a Sunday – they lock themselves up in churches afraid of the future — afraid of who is lurking outside — afraid of their own deaths — afraid Jesus has forgotten them. Go and visit one of the many churches locally — Lutheran or not — and most likely you will find cold, suspicious, fearful people afraid for their futures — hanging on life support — hoping against all hope that Jesus might possibly save their church from certain death. And if you ask them what happened, most likely they will tell you story after story about the Thomases of their church lives — people who just didn’t show up one day and eventually disappeared — and they have no idea what happened to them. They don’t know why they are missing. “Where are the Thomases?” What has happened to the Thomases?

The contrast in our reading is striking — at least I think it is. The supposed dead Jesus is very much alive — the supposedly alive Thomas is very dead in his fear. The “now alive” Jesus shows up in a big way — even though he wasn’t supposed to be there — but there he was. And the now nearly dead Thomas was supposed to be there — but he is absent in a big way — where was Thomas? The other disciples seek him out and tell him “We have seen the Lord — but, we did not see you — where were you?” This is one of the things I really want to know when I die and meet Jesus — “Where was Thomas?” 

The disciples did not care so much about Thomas’ absence — nor did the Gospel writer — he just writes “He was not there.” There is no long back story —- no explanation of his absence. No one seems to care that he was missing — they just go seek him out. Now I say no one seems to care that Thomas was missing — but Jesus cares. In fact he cares so much that Jesus comes back the next week seemingly just to see Thomas.  

Where was Thomas? One of the greatest aspects of the Bible is the fact that writers often leave out really important details in their stories — and teachings — leaving it for the readers to ponder what is missing — or what it really means. And this is one of those places — where was Thomas and why was he missing? And of course, I will never get a really good answer until I see Jesus face to face. Where was Thomas?  

We won’t ever know in this life. That question will remain elusive — just like the question “What is G-d doing in the life of the church in this society and this world?” will remain elusive. But that does not give us permission to sit back and wait for Jesus to bring people into our midst — the sheep who have wandered away — and the sheep who have yet to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. But Jesus has been unleashed into the world through the empty tomb, and the resurrection. Jesus is everywhere — seeking the lost, the last, the least, the languishing, the lazy, the losers, the limited…. 

Jesus cares? Shouldn’t we care?

Pastor Dave