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John 20:19-31 "A Sudden Change" A sermon by the Rev. Roland Kubke April 11, 2010
2nd Sunday of Easter: Acts 5:17-32; Revelation 1:4-18, John 20:19-31
Once, when I was a student pastor on my internship year, my vicarage, I made an appointment to visit an elderly couple in the congregation. They lived in an apartment complex with one of those buzzers that unlock the main door to the building, but that door was standing open when I arrived, so I walked in. As I approached their apartment, I could hear that someone on that floor was arguing loudly behind their closed door. The closer I got to the apartment, the more I realized that the couple I was coming to visit were the people that were arguing. They were literally screaming at each other. They both were not using very pleasant language, and even worse, the word “vicar” came through much too loudly and much too clearly for my comfort. It was obvious that someone did not want to meet me that day. I didn’t know what to do. I decided that I was going to leave, go back to the church, and phone them to tell them that something came up and I wouldn’t be able to see them that day. Then, just as I was starting to leave, I surprised myself by knocking on the door. The argument stopped in mid swear word, and a pleasant, calm voice sang out, “Who is it?” When she got my answer, the wife opened the door and she and her husband accepted me warmly and graciously. The entire visit was so polite and friendly that it felt very, very bizarre. Their behaviour could not have been more different to what it was just a second before I knocked on the door. Maybe you have seen this, too: a complete and sudden change at the sound of a ringing phone, or the buzz of a doorbell, or a key being inserted into a doorknob. How strange it is that people can shift from their worst behaviour to their best so rapidly! How could it be possible for someone who seems completely out of control one moment to have complete self-control the next? Our Gospel lesson this morning tells us about a sudden change in the behaviour of the disciples. They went from being in the worst sort of shape – depressed, despondent, and dreadful – to something that was very much the opposite. Of course, it didn’t take a knock on the door, but much more than that to make the change come about. It took the sudden, unexpected appearance of Jesus Himself. They saw Him; they heard Him say, “Peace be with you” and everything was as different for them as different can be. The wonderful thing is that this change is not something that they came up with within themselves. It was a gift brought upon them by the presence of Jesus. Thank God that His presence can turn us completely around. Through His own words of peace, Jesus works the best in us! |
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