Pentecost Sunday, John 20:19 – 23, it will take about 5 minutes to read
Background
I think a word or two about the very idea of a homily will help as we begin this Summer Fest. First and foremost, a homily is a scripturally based reflection to illuminate the ordinary life of the concrete people gathered to celebrate the liturgy. The scripture itself is a twofold sword that both comforts and confounds, sheds light that reveals darkness, invites, if not summons us, to become more than we are in the concreteness of our ordinary life in the actual world that we live in, are part of, cannot escape from. At its core the homily is to convey the meaning of God in Christ Jesus in this world. As always your thoughts, questions, observations are critical for the dialogue that deepens us as church.
Our approach to the Gospel reading will follow a familiar pattern, I hope. Prior to reading the Gospel, we will prepare to hear by asking our now familiar questions and some not so familar. Who are the characters in the passage? What is the “when” of the story? Do you remember the “when” of the writer? Here is a twist on the when question, what is the “when” in your life today or to put the question in other words, what is going on in this period of your life? Finally, what is the plot, the story line of the passage?
Let us now listen [read] to God’s word.
Appearance to the Disciples.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
One more question: Who are these “the Jews?” Are they “the Jews” in the time of Jesus? Are they “the Jews” in the time of the author’s writing? Are they “the Jews” at any given time in human history? Are they “the Jews” of today?
A few comments
Traditionally we think of Pentecost as the birth of the church. Let us attend closely to this account of that birth. We are told that it was the first day of the week, for us that is Sunday. It was evening. The group that gathered is identified only as disciples. They lock the doors for fear of the Jews.
THE CONCRETE ISSUE OF FEAR
It seems to matter that we know the disciples were afraid and afraid not in some abstract way but afraid of the Jews. In some way this fear in the passage matters. This is why it is very important to know who “the Jews” are?
So to create an online dialogue, let everyone know who you think they are? Why are the disciples afraid of them? Do you think “the Jews” had names for the Johannine author? I mean were they persons they knew? What do you think the first gospel audience heard in the words “the Jews?”
The goal of all of these questions is to help us come to the light on “the Jews,” not as “the Jews” but as the concrete social source of fear in their lives. So who in our society are people afraid of? Please be concrete. Think of the people whom you associate with as being bad? Then think of those whom you associate with as being good? Think of people in the news who are afraid?
HOW DOES JESUS RESPOND TO THE FEARFUL DISCIPLE GROUP?
What does he say? What does he do? Maybe take a piece of pager and write down in order the list of actual words that Jesus says in this passage. Do the same for what he does.
With that in front of you, how are these words and these actions a response? If you were afraid of what some social group might do to you and your community, what would these words and actions mean? How would they comfort you? Confound you? Summon you? Of all that Jesus says and does, what stands out for you? Why?
BIRTH OF THE CHURCH
Let’s wait to see how the first two phases of this reflection go before we attempt more. I also think that the word of God is this enormous banquet, too much to eat all at once, so good as to savor every bite. I can promise you more questions and responses to your responses.