St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Wesley Chapel, FL
Preacher: The Rev. Adrienne R. Hymes
Easter 2C: April 24, 2022
John 20:19-31
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! (The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!) What better way to rejoice in the Easter celebration, and in our identity as Easter people, than through the deeply intimate and deeply communal sacrament of baptism—the full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.1
Anticipating the joyful celebration of Jameson’s baptism today, I was reminded of the body of water in which Jesus, himself, was baptized—the Jordan River. It was seven years ago, that I was immersed in a 14-day pilgrimage with 40 other pilgrims in the Holy Land. During the travel from the U.S. to Jerusalem and for two days before visiting the Jordan River, I had been struggling with a painful muscle strain in my back which really made the demanding walking on uneven terrain challenging. I was worried that the pain and misalignment would deter from my being able to fully participate in the pilgrimage experience—which required me to be physically well.
On day three, after two straight days of difficult walking in the oppressive heat, I found myself, surrounded by my fellow pilgrims, all standing waist-deep, all renewing our baptismal vows, and all eventually being submerged in the Jordan River by the bishop. As I emerged from the water, my soul was peaceful—intimately connected with Jesus and with those in my pilgrim community.
It was, at once, a deeply communal and deeply intimate encounter with the Holy. Choosing to stay in the river, for what seemed like hours, I exhaled, and surrendered to the weight of the water; letting it wash over me and soak into me, all the while praying prayers of gratitude.
Now, there were countless experiences that revealed Christ’s active presence to this 21st-century Gentile, but on that next day, I awoke to a back that was healed. Whatever was misaligned in my physical body, which kept me in pain and held me back from fully participating in the pilgrim experience, was healed and restored in those baptismal waters. There was no doubt, in my mind, what had happened—and this believer’s faith necessarily deepened. This encounter with the Holy confronts each one of us, who walks with Jesus, to ponder Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (v. 29).
In our gospel passage in the 20th chapter in John, the resurrected Jesus came through the locked doors of the disciples’ usual meeting place, stood among them and spoke to them. But, the disciples did not speak back, not even to ask for proof of Jesus’ identity. Jesus understood the human connection between seeing and believing. Recall the signs Jesus did, throughout John’s gospel, which helped people come to believe that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus knew how important it was for the human senses to be engaged.
This resurrection appearance, with those whom Jesus had an intimate relationship, helped his inner circle to deepen their existing belief in Jesus as the Messiah, as Jesus voluntarily showed his wounded hands, and his pierced side. In response, the disciples recognized the risen Christ in their midst and rejoiced. In that moment, those gathered disciples had become owners of that supernatural encounter with Jesus and it would be, forever, something that they shared and held in common.
All of them, except Thomas, who had not been present. The other disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas replied, “Until I see him and touch him, I will not believe.” One week later, all of the disciples were again gathered in a room behind closed doors. Jesus, for the second time, came and stood among them. Jesus knew about Thomas’ unbelief, and spoke directly to him. Thomas, “Put your finger here, see my hand, put your hand in my side.” Thomas did both. Perhaps it was the very sound of Jesus’ voice which caused Thomas to recognize him, and powerfully exclaim, “My Lord and My God!”
The intimate encounter between Jesus and Thomas took place with the other disciples witnessing it because, this time, they were all together. Jesus could have appeared to Thomas alone to get him caught up with the other disciples’ experience, but that would have left the others out. What is so powerful about Jesus’ second appearance to the disciples, with all of them gathered, is that all of them experienced the risen Christ at the same time. Those gathered disciples had become owners of that supernatural encounter with Jesus, and it would be, forever, something that all of them shared and held in common. It is this shared experience that would strengthen their foundation to be sent out into the world, as apostles, to boldly proclaim the truth of the risen Lord.
Shortly, we will gather around the font to witness, and to participate in, the full initiation, by water and the Holy Spirit, of Jameson into Jesus’ body—his death and resurrection. From the Thanksgiving over the water—watching it being poured, hearing it splash; to the taking up of Jameson in her Godparent’s arms; to the holy water being poured over her head; to the chrismation on her forehead marking her as Christ’s own forever; to the light of Christ being exchanged—the real presence of Christ is indeed with us. We will become owners of this supernatural encounter with Jesus, and it will be forever something we share and hold in common.
When asked to support Jameson in her life in Christ: We participate as the body of Christ, by stating, “We will!”—deeply communal. When we each re-affirm our baptismal covenant, we participate by stating, “I will, with God’s Help”—deeply intimate.
Today is a celebration of Jameson’s new life in Christ and today is about reminding us, the faithful, to tend to our own lives in Christ. In this holy season of Easter, we are to be reminded that by his saving work on the cross and his victory over sin and death—Jesus heals broken spirits; Jesus restores misaligned souls; and Jesus shows up, behind the locked doors in our souls to call each of us into the eternal life with God that, as heirs of God’s heavenly kingdom, is ours now and ours when this mortal life has ended.
Being nurtured to the full stature of Christ is a lifelong journey, which is set in motion through baptism. Whatever is misaligned in your physical body, which keeps you in pain, and whatever is broken in your spirit which holds you back from fully participating in relationships and this sacred gift of life, Jesus invites you to let his living water wash over you, and to trust him as you soak in the healing power of the Holy Spirit. For we are “Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Christ, our King; heirs of salvation, trusting his promise, faithfully now God’s praises we sing” (v.1).2 Alleluia, Christ is risen! (The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!) Amen.
[1] “Concerning the Service,” Holy Baptism, The Book of Common Prayer, 1979, p. 298.
[2] Saward, Michael, “Baptized in Water,” Jubilate Hymns (Hope Publishing Company), 1982.
