Sermon: "Support for Faith in Low Times"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Today - the Sunday after Easter - has traditionally been called "Low Sunday." That designation does not refer to the spiritual plane on which we find ourselves today - but, rather, to more mundane matters. The experience of the church through the years is that the Sunday after Easter brings lower attendance by far than the previous one. Also, it has been interesting for me to discover different reactions from clergy when the bishop's visitation is scheduled for Low Sunday. Some say that having confirmation cannot hurt attendance anyway, while others seem glad to blame the bishop for the sparse crowd.

However, even if the pews on this Sunday may be less full than last week, the Gospel reading for today is anything but empty. In fact, there are three distinct portions or messages that fill up the reading, and each of them offers a lesson all its own.

First, there is the appearance of Jesus to his disciples on Easter evening … an appearance at which Thomas was not present. Secondly, there is the subsequent appearance a week later, and this time Thomas was there. And then, finally, St. John offers a statement about his purpose in writing the book, this Gospel.

Thus, you see, there is much ground to cover, especially on "Low Sunday." And, I do have a point or so to make about each portion of today's Gospel.

When Jesus appeared to those disciples on Easter evening, he commissioned them. He tied their callings to his own. He said, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." The disciples are to carry on the work of their leader, even after his departure.

Following the giving of this commission, Jesus offered the means to fulfill that calling. "He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" The Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Christ, which originated with God Himself - that Spirit is the means by which the commission of Christ may be fulfilled. Thus, Christ gave the command, and he also gave the power and the ability to follow his command.

Believe it or not, though, this little passage has raised considerable problems for biblical scholars. The primary issue for them is the timing of the episode - and perhaps you recognized that difficulty as we read today. According to the biblical witness we read this morning, Jesus breathes on his followers on Easter evening and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Yet, Pentecost has not happened yet. Pentecost - the great feast day of the Holy Spirit - has not taken place. That sharing of the Spirit on Pentecost seems to be preempted by this earlier event. Therefore, to respond to this chronological problem, some scholars insist that the episode we read today really happened fifty days later - on Pentecost.

The larger point here, though, is that the Holy Spirit refuses to fit into a box of time or space. Jesus says on one occasion, "The wind (or spirit) blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit"(Jn 3:8). He says, in effect, that you cannot predict or control the movement of the Spirit of God.

The Spirit was given by Jesus on Easter evening, as we read today. The Spirit was also given at Pentecost - the primary time that we celebrate that wonder-filled action of God. And the Spirit has been given at many other times as well. We pray for the Spirit's presence at the time that a person is baptized. At Confirmation, the Spirit's power is evoked once again - and we will pray in that context today. We pray the Spirit's presence at the Eucharist, in Marriage, and, indeed, throughout our lives. And when we invite the Spirit of God into our lives, we give up some control - control that we thought we previously had.

The Holy Spirit of God does not only operate in certain identifiable ways, at certain particular times … and surely not only at our command. It cannot be contained in our self-made compartments. Rather, the Holy Spirit is at work in the world, empowering those who have been commissioned by Jesus Christ. And that, my friends, includes all of us who are baptized. Our ministries and our lives are united to Christ, and his Spirit gives us the power and the ability to fulfill our calling as his followers.

The second portion of the Gospel reading deals with another of Jesus' appearances - this one in a week's time, in Thomas' presence. Remember that Thomas was not there the first time. And, it is from this second encounter that Thomas has gotten some bad press.

I do not think that Jesus intended to put down old Thomas too badly. (That should come as good news to those who worship at St. Thomas' Church!) Rather, I think this episode intends to indicate a couple of things about all who follow Jesus Christ. First, even Jesus' closest followers were limited in terms of their belief. And, secondly, Jesus demonstrates here his compassionate awareness of those human limitations.

In defense of Thomas, I want to tell a story on myself. Perhaps you can relate to it as well. Some years ago, Annie and I had the privilege of touring that great art gallery in Paris - the Louvre. In that gallery are some of the greatest works of art in the world. And included is the "Mona Lisa", probably the best known of all famous paintings anywhere. As I walked through the halls of the Louvre, I kept saying to myself, "I cannot believe that I'm seeing these things!" Even with my limited art education, I marveled at what I saw. And I really had trouble believing that the "Mona Lisa" was just around one of those corners.

But suddenly, there it was … or, rather, there she was! The painting was so familiar as to be quite personal. She was tattered and worn and dirty. I understand, in fact, that no one dares to clean the painting for fear of being known as the person who ruined the "Mona Lisa." Even in that poor state of repair, though, there she was, and I could see her. Then, and only then, I could believe it.

Thomas' reaction to second-hand information about the risen Christ was probably not all that different. I can relate to his reaction. He needed to see for himself. And, Jesus understood that need.

Thirdly and finally, the purpose of the Gospel is presented in this reading. St. John indicates that not all about Jesus is recorded in this Gospel book. Indeed, in the next chapter, John writes that if all things that Jesus did were written down, "I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written"(21:25). Thus, St. John is clear that this is not intended to be a biography or any kind of complete account of Jesus' life and ministry.

Rather, he writes, the Gospel is written as a support and an aid to faith. It is written, he says, "so that you may come to believe." The Gospel is a testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Further, by means of the Gospel, we - the readers - may claim life in his name.

Therefore, in these three parts of today's Gospel reading, we are presented a very interesting picture - a picture for our faith. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to his followers in order to empower us to live the life of faith to which we are called. Jesus gives that Spirit freely, as his own breath - and he gives it repeatedly … to the disciples, to many others at Pentecost, and to us at various times and places.

Then, the second glimpse of faith that we see in today's reading is of Christ who understands his followers and all our weaknesses. Even though we have received his Spirit, still our faith is shaky and uncertain at times. Jesus Christ knows that, and he understands. He supports us in our weakness.

And finally, we have the affirmation that the Bible itself is a source of strength to our faith. The Gospel testifies to Jesus himself, who is our ultimate reason for faith, as his Spirit is our power for faith.

Therefore, this may be "Low Sunday" in some ways. But it certainly is not "Low Sunday" in terms of the high calling we receive from our Lord and the wonderful affirmation we are offered! Thanks be to God!

Copyright © 2006 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee