As we gather, we celebrate with Thanksgiving
that we share these lands with
the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building,
and in a spirit of reparation
with our First Nations neighbours.

'Today, we begin in our celebration rejoicing in thanksgiving for our gathering together and celebrating how Christ comes breaking into our world and breaks into our lives and gives us hope and in the Resurrection.'

Call to Worship:

Have you believed, Thomas,
because you have seen me? 
Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet believe.

John. 20. 29

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

Gathering

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

May his grace and peace be with you.
May he fill our hearts with joy!

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Today 

Almighty and eternal God,
 the strength of those who believe
 and the hope of those who doubt,
 may we, who have not seen, have faith
 and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing,
 who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
 one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 20. 19-31

May the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to You, O Lord.  Amen. 

“ Hearing, Seeing, Touching ”

Hearing the title,  I am sure some of our minds went to the same place:
Hear NO Evil, See NO Evil, Do NO Evil or Speak NO Evil.
    
Curious of this philosophy, some research provided the following:

The post popular history of this philosophy has its origin in Japan. History now tells us it likely came to Japan from China in the 8th Century.

In China there are two routes to explore:

1. This comes from the late Analects of Confucious (from 4th and 2nd C. BCE) that reads: 

   Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety, speak not to what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

2. (from 3rd C. BCE), which reads

   (The gentleman) makes his eyes not want to see what is not right; makes his ears not want to hear what is not right, makes his mouth not want to speak what is not right, and makes his heart not want to deliberate over what is not right.”    

This history though does not apply to our scripture readings today, in particular the gospel of John and the encounter with the disciples, and of course, Thomas.

Today, we received more information following the Resurrection. 
    
What we learn is, in the first instance, one of the apostles was missing, besides Judas. Thomas was not there.

When the disciples tell Thomas of what has happened, we hear a very normal human response.

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hands in his side, I will not believe."

A week passes, again the disciples are gathered together in the house and Jesus again comes among them and says, “Peace be with you.”
    
Reading this account carefully, there is a part we often miss.

At no time does it say Thomas actually, touched Jesus, or actually put his hand in his side where the wound was. 
    
Yet, Jesus does invite Thomas to reach out and touch, to feel, but it is obvious—it was not necessary. 
    
Thomas responds with five of my most favorite words in scripture: “My LORD and My God!”

There is that sense of something happening within Thomas at that moment.

Each year in our cycle of liturgies and on this Sunday, we encounter Thomas and Jesus on this day. It is one of the most well-read pieces of Scripture.  

Thomas is the great representative of all of us, and we doubters are only too glad to share the same good news as Thomas shares—My LORD and my God!’
    
We go one step further, though.

Each week we reach out and touch and feel and receive at this very altar. Receiving the Eucharist is our touching, our feeling and our believing. 
    
At the same time, today is a great day to take a moment to reflect on some of the many titles of Jesus: (Kind of like, you know, final exams are coming up, so it’s review-time!)
Christ as leader, Savior, God’s right hand, faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, ruler of kings, Messiah, Son of God.
    
As well, we often hear in John’s revelation: God is Father, Lord, Alpha and Omega, and the Almighty.

One further observation from John’s gospel is this business of gathering on the first day of the week.  For centuries the Christian Church has continued this practice. 

We gather to be inspired by the Cross of Christ.

There is great symbolism in the practice of the Processional Cross leading the worshipers or leading the spiritual team into church.

Coming into the Sanctuary—that wonderful symbolism and that reminder, Jesus is here.

Jesus is leading us in worship. The Spirit of Jesus is with us.  The Lord coming among us, and of the Resurrection. 
    
Then we perform a simple, yet powerful gesture, in exchanging the peace of Christ.

Pre-Covid we would have reached out and touched hands, symbolizing the touch of Christ in our lives,which is then followed

by the feeling of Christ’s body in our hands at the Eucharist with the sacrament.

But, post-Covid, that has changed.  

To go back for a moment, to the exchange of the peace, part of the symbolism is the intention of a liturgical act handed down directly from our Lord when, as we have just heard in John 20, when Jesus greets the disciples, and greets them with these words, “The peace of the Lord be with you!”
    
The intention of the liturgical revisionists was to be, by example, to fill the room with the life of the Holy Spirit. It is a great moment of death and resurrection. 

Post-covid, in our parish, we have not returned to sharing the physical touching of each other.

But I think there’s a symbolic sense that happens when we simply acknowledge with open arms and acknowledge that peace and there’s that sense of Spirit dwelling among us. 
    
To take this one step further, there is a great work of art: Caravaggio's painting of The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (c. 1601–1602).

It was painted for Vincenzo Giustiniani (Pietro Bellori) and later entered the Royal Collection of Prussia.

It survived the Second World War—a miracle in itself—unscathed, and is now in the Palais at Berlin.
    
As I said earlier, this encounter between Jesus and Thomas leaves no room to suggest there was an actual touching.

At the same time, Caravaggio depicts Thomas doing just that. (I have a copy of that painting to distribute to the Parish this morning.) 
    
As Christians, and as often questioned by those outside of the faith, we want actual living evidence.

There’s always that desire for that living evidence.

We are human. We want to be able to touch, to feel, to see. 

At the same time, we need to trust, with faith, what we hear, what we believe, and what we see, and understand what we are taught. 
    
Except, "if I could only touch…if I could only touch Jesus, then I would know for sure."

Except we are left with this proof —a proof that depends on faith.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

God of resurrection and new life, we come before you in
prayer for the Church, the world, and all who are in need.

Inspire the Church with the breath of your Holy Spirit, that
we sing the good news of the Resurrection.
Continue to inspire Rev. Brian, Rev. Trish,
our lay leaders Kathy and Carole,
and our Bishop Anna, to boldly proclaim your love for all people. 
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

Preserve the earth as a safe home for all creatures.
Restore habitats contaminated by pollution or overuse;
strengthen efforts to shape more sustainable communities,
and make us mindful of the impacts of our daily lives
on the well-being of creation. 
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

Kindle in the nations a spirit of cooperation and mutual care.
Raise up creative and courageous leaders committed to shaping just solutions to complex challenges in our local and global communities.
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

Embrace all who carry wounds, that they might know your compassion.
Draw near to those with chronic pain or anxiety, and for all whom death is near.
Comfort individuals and communities suffering in any way.
In our parish we continue to pray for; John, Sheila, Geoff, and those on our hearts.
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

Transform our fear into curiosity and love,
especially across differences in race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, and economic situation. Unravel stereotypes that lead to discrimination, and destroy oppressive systems that marginalize vulnerable communities.
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

We give thanks to you for our beloved dead, trusting that as we remember the faithful departed from all times and places.
Confident that you are the Alpha and Omega, we pray for your wisdom and guidance until our early pilgrimage is complete.
Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.

We commend these and all our prayers to you, O God, and we commend the soul of Francis to your keeping. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.
Trusting that you are always with us; in the name of 
Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour.  Amen.

We pray:

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. Amen.

Heavenly Father,
we have seen with our eyes,
and we have touched Your sacrament with our hands.
And in that bread of life, You have strengthened our faith.
So, we know that your power working can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

God’s blessing be upon you and yours this week.  Amen.