Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

I feel sorry for the pastor who has to preach on the Sunday after Easter. Throughout the Christian church, this Sunday is known as Low Sunday, as in low attendance.   On this day, when the sanctuary’s Easter garden has faded and the congregational singing is little less robust, the poor preacher merely hopes that when he or she ascends into the pulpit, that there will be someone on the other side in the pew listening. It’s a lonely place. Regrettably, this is always the Sunday assigned to the retelling of the story of Doubting Thomas, who for his one brief moment of questioning the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, has been forever banished to the eternal pulpit of Low Sunday. And that’s a pity.  Why, you may ask? Because the story of Doubting Thomas is just as important as that of the dutiful disciples who went to discover the empty tomb on Easter morning. Unfortunately, most parishioners never hear the story of Faithful Thomas.

My friends, this morning let me share with you again God’s good news that Thomas understood more than any other disciples- that our Lord is always seeking the lost, the fallen and the doubting and inviting them back into his loving arms, so that you believe that he is the Messiah and have life in his name.

For three years Thomas had faithfully trusted the words which his friend Jesus had spoken.  He understood that his master’s journey would lead him to a tree on a hill called Calvary.  On the road to Jerusalem he had sounded the battle cry to the other disciples, “Let us also go that we may die with him.”  There was no doubt that Thomas loved Jesus.  And yet, when the expected truly happened, when his friend Jesus was crucified and buried, Thomas was crushed beneath the weight.  He didn’t want to share his loss.  He didn’t want others to experience his pain.  He wanted to be alone with his grief.  And so it came to pass that on the first day of the week when Jesus was raised from the dead and returned to his disciples to offer his peace and stand in their midst, Thomas was not there.  The other disciples celebrated the resurrection, but as for Thomas, the good news remained too good to be true.  He wanted to believe, but he simply couldn’t.  He knew that seeing is believing.  “Unless I see in his hands the prints of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

Surprisingly doubt didn’t destroy Thomas’ faith. Instead, doubt inspired and drove him to that faith in Jesus which would transform his life. More importantly, Jesus came seeking Thomas in his darkest hour of doubt in exactly the place where Thomas would expect to see him.

Eight days later when Jesus returned again, Thomas was there among the 11 disciples  He could not hide.  Jesus knew the thoughts of his heart. At that moment Thomas was filled with joy, and he fell on his knees in love and cried his confession of faith, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus looked down at the wearied face of his friend and disciple, and sighed, “You have believed because you have seen.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” The bittersweet sadness of the disciple Thomas was not his doubting nor disbelief. Our pity for this good man, was that for eight days he lived and walked alone in sorrow and pain.  All because he was searching for the answers to life’s questions in the wrong places. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.”  It was an invitation to see and believe.

Throughout my ministry, I have known men and women who have been equally defiant and troubled. They held high expectations for faith in their life, as the disciple Thomas did, but along the way they were met with disappointment. They became what you might call the faithful doubters, or perhaps the doubting faithful. At some crucial moment in their faith journey, they were standing in the wrong place, and ever since then it has been difficult for them to return.  Perhaps you have known someone or have experienced such a moment of doubt yourself. It is a painful crisis of faith and trust in God’s love and mercy.

My friends, you needn’t give in or surrender to doubt. Martin Luther himself wrote, “When the believer feels himself doubting, let him practice faith, fight against doubt, and labor to capture certainty.”  Today as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, I commend to you three places where I trust you will meet the risen savior again and believe.

This morning, you have come to the church and that is a good choice.  Your decision to attend worship was the first step in your movement to see the Lord and believe.  You put your foot directly on the path of God when you crossed your threshold this morning.  And now you are being drawn into God’s living word. In Holy Scripture, God has chosen to be intimate and profound.  For scripture is like an open window where God enters and journeys in his redeeming act of redemption.  And striding through the whole story is the figure of Jesus, the incarnate Word carried on the wings of the Holy Spirit.

Second, in the church, you may be certain to encounter the deep wells of faith when you receive the cleansing water and Word of Holy Baptism, and the bread and wine of Holy Communion.  In these two visible and mysterious sacraments God promises to be faithful to you.  Yes, here at the Lord’s table his pierced hand offers you the gift of his presence, and his own voice whispers into your heart the promise of peace and salvation.

Third, I trust you will see the Lord when you enter into a Christian fellowship.  Perhaps not right away, but Jesus has promised that where ever two or three are gathered in his name, there he will be present in their midst.  You and I have not been called into our own personal relationship with God estranged from the needs of our neighbors, but we have been called into a vibrant fellowship known as the body of Christ.  In the meeting of believers, where joys and sorrows are shared on the level of a common faith, there you and I can trust that Christ will make his presence known.

In her short story, “What’s in Jeremy’s Egg?” author Ida Mae Kempel beautifully illustrates the importance of a fellowship of believers where journeys of faith are experienced together. Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind.  He was a student at St.Theresa’s Elementary School. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Miss Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly.  Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher. One day she called Jeremy’s parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As his parents entered the empty classroom, Miss Miller said to them, “Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn’t fair to him to be with younger children who don’t have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students.”  Jeremy’s mother cried while her husband spoke. “Miss Miller,” he said, “It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here.” From that day on, Miss Miller tried hard to ignore Jeremy’s noises and his blank stares.

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Miss Miller told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. “Now,” she said to them, “I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?” “Yes, Miss Miller,” the children responded enthusiastically–all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus’ death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller’s desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Miss Miller found a flower. “Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life,” she said.  “When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here.” A small girl in the first row waved her arm. “That’s my egg, Miss Miller,” she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Miss Miller held it up. “We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that’s new life, too.” Little Judy smiled proudly and said, “Miss Miller, that one is mine.” Next, Miss Miller found a rock with moss on it.  She explained that moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, “My daddy helped me,” he beamed.

Then Miss Miller opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy’s she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had remembered to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. “Miss Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?”

Flustered, Miss Miller replied, “But Jeremy, your egg is empty.” He looked into her eyes and said softly, “Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty, too.”  When Miss Miller could speak again, she asked him, “Do you know why the tomb was empty?” “Oh, yes,” Jeremy said, “Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up.” Fortunately, the recess bell rang before Miss Miller needed to say anything more. Three months later, Jeremy died from complications of his disease. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.

My friends, in the midnight hour of the soul, when you are wrestling with doubt. Do not be afraid. Turn again to the places where your faith can be nurtured, within the church where the Scripture is proclaimed, where the sacraments are shared, and where God’s holy people gather.  It is here in this place where the living Christ may be found. Yes, and in these simple means of grace, our Lord Jesus’ is inviting you to “place your fingers into the nail prints” and to “place your hand into his side.”   For seeing is believing.  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.