Every Sunday after Easter the suggested reading is about Thomas. Many of you know the story. Jesus appeared to the disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there. When he came back to the disciples, they told him with great enthusiasm, I am sure. It was too much for Thomas to believe. He was a realist. He didn’t to see and touch Jesus before he would believe.

One question I ask, where was Thomas? Maybe he felt life had to get back to normal so he went out to get food for them. Maybe he went back to work. Maybe he just wandered and looked around and to see if anything changed after Jesus died. What difference has these 3 years of following Jesus made? Perhaps he thought.

A telling story of Jesus was when Lazarus, Jesus’ friend was dying. Jesus decided to return to see Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Thomas knew that was going to be dangerous. He knew they wanted to kill Jesus along with his followers. So what did Thomas say? “Let us go also and die with him.” And again Thomas, the ever pragmatist: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?

Thomas was willing to follow, even to the death. He did want to know where they were following. But resurrected? How could this be?

Before Thomas came Jesus and said, “Peace be with you.” He breathed on them and said “receive the Holy Spirit”. This is the Pentecost story for John. The Holy Spirit is given to this motley discouraged crew. He is alive! They will never be the same!!

So, they try to tell their dear friend, Thomas about this experience. Even someone in their inner circle, they cannot convince.

Thomas is called Didymus, which means twin. He is our twin. We sometimes doubt. We have put the lilies and tulips and daffodils away. Our candy is eaten from the Easter baskets, the eggs are found. And now what?

A man comes to Jesus for the healing of his son …. If only …
if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

We believe, help our unbelief, we cry out with that father and with our twin Thomas.

In the meantime, just breathe. And with every breath, we breathe in the spirit.

We need that peace Jesus offers today. Even though many, even in our inner circle do not believe. Jesus gives us one last beatitude… remember all those blessed are yous? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

Peter reminds us in his letter:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

We are resurrection people. The day of Easter may be over, but the eternal life has just begun.

There is a famous story, you may have heard it. There is was a famous painting in the Louvre.
It is called “Checkmate”.
It is a match between Satan and Jesus. It looks like Satan is about to win. A chess master studied the painting. And said, no, the king has one more move.

Satan was not going to win.

Death where is thy sting! Jesus always has one more move. Because we breath in the peace of God, we can breathe out the hope that is within us.

We face loss. Easter doesn’t change that. We also have hope. We feel despair. And we feel peace.

I am so touched by the little story of a boy a mole, a fox and a horse. The boy says to the horse, “You believe in me more than I believe in myself.” “You’ll catch up.” The horse says to the boy.

Thomas, and us, his twin, may not have the vantage point of the saints who have gone on before us have, But we will catch up.

We may not have the faith some have, but we will catch up. We may feel the Satan’s of the world are smug and think they have us in a check mate, but the king has another move.

Also in that little book, as the boy is traveling to the metaphor of home, he says “we have so far to go.” “But look how far you’ve come.”

There will be rough days ahead. We may have to stand up and stand out. We may have to challenge and to speak up for those who cannot speak. We may have to be an advocate for those being harmed. Yet remember we have an advocate on our side, the Holy Spirit, breath in that peace and breathe out that hope. Because we are resurrection people. AMEN.