Acts 2: 14a, 22–32; Psalm 16; I Peter 1: 3–9; John 20:
19-31
This is the homily by
Fr. Gene Tucker, given at St. John’s, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on Sunday, April
23, 2017.
“DISCIPLESHIP, THEN APOSTLESHIP”
(Homily
text: John 20: 19–31)
This
morning, we are presented with the very familiar account of Jesus’
post-resurrection appearance to Thomas.
Yes, this would be the Thomas we know as “Doubting Thomas”.
The
event that the author of the Fourth Gospel relates to us took place one week
after that first Easter Sunday, so it is for that reason that we hear this text
every year on the Second Sunday of Easter.
Almost
always, a text from Holy Scripture presents us with one (or perhaps two) basic
teaching(s) or point(s). The details of the text are usually in support of this
one (or two) central idea(s). (Again, this is most commonly true, although
there are exceptions.) Using this concept as our starting point, if we look for
the basic principle or point in the text before us this morning, it would be
this: Discipleship must precede Apostleship.
The
text itself suggests being a disciple, and it looks outward into the future as
the Lord’s apostles make their way out into the world. Jesus completes Thomas’
training as a disciple by giving him the resurrection appearance that will
inform the remainder of his life. Then, the text tells us that Jesus said to
the eleven, “Even as the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Notice the
outward vision. That vision extends even to you and me today, as we are told
that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not
written in this book (the Fourth Gospel). But these are written that you may
come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through
believing, you may have life in his name.”
So,
with regard to Thomas’ discipleship and his apostleship, we can summarize the
process this way:
Jesus is giving
Thomas the tools Thomas will need in order to go out and spread the Good News
(Gospel).
Jesus
is completing Thomas’ preparation as a disciple. Once that formation is
complete, then Thomas will be ready to become an Apostle, one who is sent out
to share the Good News of God made known in Christ.
Thomas’
preparation consists of being an eyewitness to Jesus’ resurrection. As the Lord
gives Thomas a special revelation of Himself, Thomas receives what all the
other ten original disciples already had:
An in-person encounter with the risen Lord. So, in a sense, Thomas’ request
isn’t all that unusual, even though Thomas makes demands that the others hadn’t
made (the requirement to be able to put his finger in the Lord’s wounds and in
the Lord’s side).
Being
an eyewitness to the resurrection is one of the major, basic requirements for
being an Apostle. We can see this requirement in practice as part of the
process by which Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot: In Acts 1: 21–22,
Matthias and the other person also nominated, Joseph (also known as Barsabbas)
were “eyewitnesses of His (Jesus’) resurrection.” Elsewhere, Peter confirms
that the Apostles were eyewitnesses to the Lord’s rising from the dead.
In
order to go out into the world, following the Lord’s call to serve others and
God in Jesus’ name, the Apostles first had to have the tools they needed to
know about the Lord, and to be witnesses to God’s power to overcome evil and
death in the resurrection of Jesus. This knowledge, first-hand knowledge, was
essential training for each of them. And, tradition tells us, that each one of
the original Disciples-become-Apostles, with one exception, cared so deeply and
totally in this reality, and believed completely in God’s power made known in
Jesus Christ that each one of them suffered a martyr’s death. Even a horrible death
couldn’t compare with the reality of God’s power to save and redeem. Such was their dedication to God and to the
Lord Jesus. In Thomas’ case, tradition tells us that his devotion to spreading
the Gospel took him all the way to the subcontinent of India. Even today, a
church still bears his name: The Mar Thoma Church.
Whenever
we read, hear or study Holy Scripture, the thought should be in our minds: What
does this text mean to me? What is this text trying to teach me?
Perhaps
the lesson we can draw from Thomas’ demand and the Lord’s answer is that we
cannot become an apostle (with a small “a”) unless and until we have become a
disciple. To be a disciple, we must come to the knowledge of God as we have
that knowledge in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This
succinct saying summarizes all we have been saying to this point: We cannot share (with others) what we
ourselves do not have (a personal relationship with Jesus Christ).
AMEN.
