It’s evening on that first Easter Day. The tomb is empty, and Mary Magdeline, Mary the mother of James, and Salome have been given the good news of Jesus' resurrection. The women were instructed to tell Peter and the disciples that they would see Jesus again just as he had told them. Jesus had told them of his suffering, death, and resurrection before and now all this has come to pass. What do you suppose the disciples’ reaction was?

They are in a house behind locked doors. They weren’t out sharing the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. They are hiding from the religious authorities who were responsible for Jesus’ death and they are pretty sure they are likely to be next on the list. So they are in a dark room, waiting and fearing that the authorities will knock on the door and arrest them.

It seems a strange reaction. If you had lived with Jesus for three years, witnessed his miracles, listened to his teachings, seen him crucified, and now have evidence that he has been raised from the dead you would think they would have been out beating down doors sharing the good news.

But is it so strange? How many times have you and I who have experienced the presence of Jesus in our daily lives been reluctant to share the good news? I remember a time in high school. I had gone to a camp in South Dakota and at the end of a week had been given a Witness Band. It was a simple leather shoelace with two knots. The knots divided the band into three segments to remind me of the Trinity and it appeared the band had no beginning or end to show God’s eternal nature. The idea was if someone asked about it, you could witness to them.

I was sitting in my guidance counselor’s office talking about upcoming college visits. My counselor went to the same large church I did, so he probably had a good idea what the band was about, but he asked me about it anyway. And my reaction? Oh, it’s just a memory band to remind of my time at camp this summer.

I’m not sure why I felt I couldn’t witness to this fellow Christian. I knew he was a Christian, a Lutheran even, and yet I couldn’t summon the nerve to share my faith with Mr. Hausnecht.

I can understand how the disciples felt. You and I have the benefit of fellow Christians, the examples of faith given to us by our parents, grandparents, and the saints. We have God’s word, the Bible, which as John says at the end of his gospel was “written so 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.”

The disciples were the first ones to witness the mighty and miraculous power of God in Jesus. Yet it’s one thing to experience such power and it is another to believe. And even if one has faith, it’s another thing to act on that faith.

As promised, Jesus appears to disciples after his resurrection. He breaks through the human barriers and stands among them "in the flesh.” The disciples now have physical proof to back up the account given to them by the women earlier that morning. Now the Easter joy appears as they recognize that Jesus’ promise has been fulfilled. Jesus goes one step further and in the Gospel of John we have a Pentacost story – a giving of the Holy Spirit to those gathered in the locked room. Jesus says, “My peace I give you, I send you out to minister as the Father has sent me.” They receive the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the constantly present one who will provide Jesus’ followers with the strength, knowledge, and skills needed to minister in the world.

Of course, for whatever reason, one of the disciples wasn’t in the room that evening. He did not have the same opportunity to see Jesus face to face. Since then he’s been given the dubious name of Doubting Thomas. All he wanted was the same evidence everyone else had received the week before. Once he is given the face to face encounter with his Master, he utters the great statement of faith, “My Lord and my God.”

Are we any different from Thomas? In order to doubt there must be an amount of faith, I believe. The two go together. We have all witnessed or heard of some great examples of faith – Mother Theresa, Dietrich Bonnhoeffer, the apostle Paul, a faithful long time church member. We have heard of great miracles performed in God’s name, but haven’t see them with out own eyes. We hear of the terrible things that happen in this world - earthquakes, tornadoes, cancer, diseases, senseless killings of our youth, and war and wonder how a loving God can allow such things to happen. And we wonder, we doubt our faith.

It is in that doubt when we experience Jesus. He comes to us in the faces of our family and friends in times of crisis. He comes to us at the time of loved ones’ deaths when food is brought in to the home or a funeral lunch is provided. Jesus comes to us when we are visited while in the hospital or nursing home or when we’re homebound. Jesus comes to us when an Easter or birthday card is received from a fellow Christian. It is in the fellowship we receive here as we gather to worship that Jesus comes to us again.

Jesus comes to us and says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Jesus breathes on us and says. “Receive the Holy Spirit. “ With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit's constant presence we can carry out the marching orders Jesus set before his disciples and us. As Matthew puts it at the end of his gospel, “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with always to the end of age.”

Last week we heard the account of Jesus' resurrection from the Gospel of Mark. If you remember, after the women had received the good new of Christ’s resurrection, they ran from the tomb because they were terrified, and told no one. It makes you wonder how the Good News was ever announced to the world. But God knew of our humanness. From the beginning of time, God knew we would need the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit to show us the way. To give us the courage and strength to share the good news of Easter as we live out our daily lives. There will be times of doubt for all of us, times when we’re don’t feel comfortable sharing our faith with others. But we need to remember that God is always with us. Jesus experienced all our joys and sorrows while he lived here on Earth. And because Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, we have the promise of living eternally with him once our life on this earth is over. Thanks be to God.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Share the good news. AMEN

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Enlivened in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray for the life of the church, for those in need, and for all God’s creation.

Holy, life-giving God, breathe your Holy Spirit upon the people of your church Lead us to proclaim the good news of Christ’s resurrection, so that all may have life in his name. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Send rain upon the mountains and sun upon the fields. Bring your creation into bloom this season, and sustain every living thing with our abundant goodness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Guide us in ways of faithful stewardship of resources you graciously give. Establish justice in the economic practices of our homes, communities, and nations. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Draw all who suffer and struggle into loving, faithful communities. Heal those who know pain and loss Eldon, Kathy, Pat, Sherri, Dee, Matt, John, Ester, Pat, Joyce, Cora, Dan, Bob, Mary Ann, Aaron, Laurie, Pat, Louise, Pr. Laura, Missy, Roger, Linda, Kathy, Terri, Pr. Tom, Jim, Warren, Tom, Robin, Randy, Lavina, Marcia, Vern, Ray, Marge, Everett, Lew, Jory, Mary, Dee

The family of Sue McEnaney

Inspire us to care for those in our midst. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

As you have given life to faith communities around the world, bind us to one another in our life together. Lead us to share our gifts and learn from one another. We ask this for our whole congregation, our sisters and brothers of the Monduli Parish and our members... Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Giving thanks for the saints who Christ has freed from the bonds of death and brought into resurrection life, we pray you make us dead to sin and bring us into new life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

With grateful hearts we remember the generous gifts we receive from your hand. Today we are thankful for prayers offered in support of friends and family... Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.