Jack Hardaway
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Creation.
That word requires faith.
The Heavens and the Earth, and all the fullness there of, are a decision, an act of will, they are full of intention, and purpose, and direction, and deep, deep goodness.
An act of faith on God’s part to make it so.
An act of faith on our part to live like it is so, even when experience says otherwise, especially when experience says otherwise.
Creation.
From that earth, dust is gathered and shaped, and God breathes life into it, making human life. Shaped from the stuff of creation, and filled with the divine breath, the Spirit of Life, the force of divine life from the inner life of God. The Spirit of Life.
Good dirt. Holy dirt.
Jesus appears on Easter and breathes on the disciples, resuscitating a breathless and fading creation, the life force had diminished, they were dead but didn’t know it, until they are breathed upon anew, and rediscover being alive.
Creation.
Re-creation.
New creation.
The human flesh full of resurrection life, resurrection breath.
Not someday after being dead and buried, but now, the living dead becoming alive anew.
Humanity starts over.
That is Easter in John’s Gospel.
That is the gift of the Spirit in John’s gospel.
Not like at Pentecost in the book of Acts, with the wind and the tongues of flame that give the gift of proclaiming good news to all languages and nations and peoples.
The gift of the Spirit that Jesus breathes today is different, it is life itself, animating the dead, it is resurrection.
It is also forgiveness. To come alive is to be able to forgive.
Forgiveness is life.
Thomas misses out.
Seeing is believing. That little turn of phrase, seeing is believing, that comes from Thomas’s part in the story we hear today.
Thomas sees and touches the wounds.
Touching is believing, touching the risen flesh of Jesus.
Touches the wounds in God.
Believing is life, believing in the living flesh of Jesus, is the gift of coming alive to Thomas.
And we are those who are blessed, likewise for believing, but without seeing and touching.
The Gospel lesson breaks the third wall of the narrative, and Jesus looks at us and calls us blessed for doing so.
All is grace.
The Risen Lord is grace.
The breath of life is grace.
To see is grace.
To touch is grace.
To believe is grace.
Forgiveness is grace.
Baptism is grace.
It is all gift, that we may live now, this day, not some day, but now.
Brushing the dust off, rising from the ground and coming alive this day.
Re-creation.
Beginning again.
Forgiveness.
Those words require faith.
That God can be trusted, that life is worthwhile, that we are here on purpose, that life is full of direction, and purpose, and intention, and deep, deep goodness.
Even when experience says otherwise. Especially when experience says otherwise.
Starting over.
Breathe deep and live.
That is the good news, the Easter message.
Believe deep and live.
Forgive deep and live.