The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, March 30th: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31)

DISCIPLES GROW IN COURAGE AND CONVICTION

From now until after Pentecost Sunday, the first reading each week is from the Acts of the Apostles rather than the Old Testament. This gives us a good understanding of how the early church grew and developed in the first several months after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven.

If we pay close attention to all three readings this week we can see a fascinating transformation in the disciples over time. Although we hear the readings in this order: first, second, Gospel—chronologically, the events actually occurred in this order: Gospel, first, second.

The Gospel reading this week is the famous story of Doubting Thomas. It was one week after Jesus’ resurrection and all the disciples except Thomas had seen Jesus alive. Thomas replied to their amazing story by saying, in effect, “You guys are nuts! I’m not gonna believe your crazy tale unless I stick my fingers in the nail holes in his hands!”

Although the other disciples saw Jesus alive and believed that He definitely rose from the dead, the Gospel tells us they were hiding behind locked doors, fearful that the authorities might come after them next. Not exactly bold witnesses spreading the Good News to the rest of the world, were they?

At that point in time, they had no intention of telling anyone else about Jesus’ resurrection. As far as they were concerned, the Good News was going to be a private secret that eleven timid souls would take to their graves.

The first reading this week takes place just after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to give the disciples a jump start of courage and conviction. Peter had just finished proclaiming the Gospel in public for the first time, which resulted in 3,000 new converts putting their faith in Christ. Not bad for a guy who six week earlier was hiding behind locked doors. 

The reading tells us the new believers “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.”

What an amazing turn-around. In less than two months the apostles went from being confused cowards trying to figure out how to sneak out of Jerusalem and resume their former lives in anonymity, to boldly proclaiming a radical message in the heart of the city and shepherding thousands of new Christians.

These uneducated fishermen and farmers were now the leaders and teachers of a new and growing church. From what we learned about these guys in the Gospels, it’s pretty obvious they did not possess the skills needed to build such a vibrant congregation on their own. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and through them did they achieve such stunning results.

In this week’s second reading—Peter’s first epistle written decades later—the former fisherman explained the source of their stunning transformation: “God…gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

They were born again. They experienced a spiritual rebirth—as we all should—when they put their faith in Jesus. This produced in them a living hope of eternal life, which Peter described as “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

And it all originates with the resurrection of Jesus. That central event in the history of the universe turned everything upside down. Death was no longer final. Eternal life became a reality. The power of the resurrection gave Peter and the other apostles the courage to forget about their own safety and do the will of God.

Later in the second reading, Peter explained how faith and hope can be ours, even if we weren’t actually there to see the risen Lord: “Although you have not seen [Jesus] you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Most likely Peter wrote these words with Doubting Thomas in mind. Jesus finally did appear to Thomas and said, in effect, “Hi Tommy, now what was that you were saying about nail holes?”

Thomas made his great confession, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

I’m thankful that Jesus picked fallible, thick-headed people to be the original apostles. I can relate to them a lot better. When we see in this week’s readings how they were transformed, it’s clear that it was the power of God working in them rather than their own abilities. This gives us hope that we, too, can grow in our walk with the Lord. Even during those times when we have doubts and fears, we know that by focusing on the resurrection, we will draw closer to Christ and, as Peter explained, “attain the goal of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls.”

©2008