So, in thinking about this gospel text, I wanted to show you this video clip from the movie, Charlotte’s Web. Anybody ever read that book as a child? I read it half a dozen times back then. Let’s watch.
Now you all know that birds don’t talk and scarecrows aren’t real. Do any of you ever feel like there is something scary in your world that is stressing you… unknown… may cause harm?
Are the birds in this clip anything like us, in a larger sense, or is it just birds who are scared of things they don’t understand? Are we sometimes afraid of something so much that we make it bigger than it is, or imagine it is something that it is not. The birds say, “I’m telling you that guy is following us!” He scares me! How can he be in every corn field? It can’t be the same guy!
Does that sound anything similar to our Gospel lesson today? Can you try to put yourself in the place of those disciples who were trying to grasp the both the joy and the gravity of the situation with Jesus? I mean, he was appearing and disappearing right in front of them! Walking through walls! Would you be a little frightened?
Notice in the story what Jesus does and says to address their fear. Peace – Calm
He seems almost to not understand them but he begins to address it. He says: -Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
Jesus is using logic and reality to try to address their natural fear. Does that work?
I don’t know, DO ghosts have flesh and bones? I’m not supposed to talk to ghosts!
Touch me; I am real. Look at my hands and feet. He says, ok, still don’t believe me? Got any food? I’ll eat it for you. Do ghosts eat food? I don’t know if they do…?
But these are the things Jesus said to try to convince the disciples that he was indeed, Jesus, in the flesh. We understand the disciples’ response, don’t we?
What then is the purpose of Jesus just popping in and out of their – upset lives?
What I see in this passage is Jesus trying to convince the disciples that rising from the dead was actually possible, if unsettling. Unusual. Causing a whole worldview shift. It is shocking, even by today’s standards.
In the midst of this “revelation,” Maybe Jesus was trying to let them know that what was needed from them was a bit of resilience in the face of the miracle, which was bound to bring uncertainty and chaos into their lives.
When new things happen, things change! Think Pearl Harbor; personal computers; pandemic…. vaccine for covid; internet; smartphones; automatic doors…. did you get your eclipse glasses and look at the sun during the eclipse? We couldn’t do that too easily 30 years ago. New amazing things cause big changes.
While the crucifixion of Jesus was traumatic; the resurrection was…. Also, traumatic?
What made these disciples able to go out into the world and proclaim a crazy story about a holy guy rising from the dead who hadn’t even hung around to show the wider whole world what he did? (Ascension) What gave them that courage?
We know that trauma causes PTSD in some people. But did you know some trauma can actually cause growth? Maybe you have heard of this – some people who have experienced trauma report that although the trauma was difficult, their lives are better afterwards. The factors are varied and depend on the individual, the event itself, how it develops, what it means and the culture involved. Everyone is different and everyone’s response is valid. [1] But some get stronger after the traumatic experience.
In this gospel lesson, Jesus seems to be trying to lead his disciples into thinking a different way – a way that included the amazing reality of Jesus’ resurrection. A reality that has since been repeated, preached and upheld by millions of Christians ever since. People don’t take such risks for a lie. It was no lie. It was GOOD NEWS.
I think Jesus was promoting three things here: resilience, reality and reassurance.
Have you ever heard of the Templeton Foundation? In 1972, Sir John Templeton established the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (now known simply as the Templeton Prize). It is an annual cash gift exceeding the value of the Nobel Prize, the Templeton Prize honors individuals whose exemplary achievements harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind’s place and purpose within it. The foundation is located in Conshohocken PA.
This past week I received an email (I subscribe) from the Templeton Foundation Ideas blog, highlighting a group of researchers in the Midwest who run an organization called The Anti-Fragility Academy. It suggested listening to a podcast so I did.
Anti-fragility considers the idea that, in a world such as the one we inhabit, uncertainty and chaos happens a lot. We simply don’t understand all of it. But we have to live in it. It can harm us, as we are by nature, fragile, in the face of that uncertainty.
However, Anti-fragility is the idea that even living in such a world, it is possible to actually grow and become better, stronger, finding better peace and prosperity actually BECAUSE of the uncertainty or trauma we live through.
Some people call this Resilience (although resilience means more like bounce-back)
Anti-fragility is the idea that stressors can actually help us be stronger and more whole.
Jesus was also using Reality to address the disciples fear. Using logic and reality, he asked them to accept his resurrection as real.
Finally, Jesus was actively Reassuring them by his presence. …following them around!
Resilience Reality and Reassurance are the concepts that Jesus was teaching them.
He was asking the disciples to be resilient – they could get through this, even grow.
He was asking the disciples to see reality – hold on to reality.
He was asking the disciples to be reassured – God is able to do things they can’t.
Jesus is asking that of us too.
Can you believe again, after a set-back? Jesus is asking.
Do you see reality and not just what you want to see? Jesus is asking.
Can you find peace knowing God is with you? Jesus is asking.
If you can, it might mean you can actually grow through things that happen to you and create more potential for both you and this world.
Jesus certainly made a big scene back then. – with many people. Bible says over 500.
I think Jesus was trying to encourage the disciples because they had a big job to do.
Jesus is still asking us the same thing today through this account. Are you going to lay in your bed and lament, like the psalmist does in our scripture? Are you going to hang back because you feel too uncertain?
Paul in Romans says that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” You are all a part of that heritage, just by being here. We should embrace the anti-fragility that the spirit of God puts upon our hearts and souls, and continue the work begun by the disciples.
And go change the world for the better, even if it is a little bit at time – with the resilience, reality, and reassurance we have.
By the way, I’m telling you that guy IS following us around!
Thanks be to God!
Amen
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/