Sermon: 27 April

Saint Margaret’s

Anglican Church

Budapest, Hungary

Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29;

Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31

“Jesus came and stood among them.”

That would be an unremarkable statement to make were it not

for the fact that the Evangelist John goes out of his way to also

explain to us that “the doors of the house where the disciples had

met were locked.” John does not go on to explain the obvious

dilemma inherent in his observation: that people do not

normally appear out of nowhere behind closed and locked doors.

Yet, there is Jesus in the midst of his disciples. How did he get

there if he was indeed the very same Jesus who just days before

had walked the streets of Jerusalem presumably without passing

through walls, barricades, bolted doors, and other obstacles?

Good question. I suppose it is, in a sense, almost as if to say that

no place is out-of-bounds for the Risen Jesus; no place is not his realm. He can be anywhere. And he is

everywhere. Even here this morning in Szentkirályi utca. You cannot keep him away. And the disciples’

understandable fear of their fellow countrymen outside the walls of their safe little enclave is suddenly

turned to rejoicing as they experience the Lord in their midst. Rejection and gloom are turned at once to

faith and hope, as they observe the wounds from the Cross on our Lord’s hands and feet. The doors of the

place may still be bolted shut. But the disciples’ hearts and minds are now open, at least a crack, to the

wonderful purposes of God.

And the peace which our Lord prays upon them, twice no less, becomes in and through them the

forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation of humankind with God. Indeed, these words, “If you forgive the

sins of any, they are forgiven them,” remain a part of many priestly ordination rites to this day. And

then, Jesus, still behind locked doors with his disciples, sends them forth. “As the Father has sent me, so I

send you.” For heaven’s sake, he seems to be saying, open the doors. Get out of your locked houses and

your comfort zones. Leave your closed minds behind. Get out into the highways and byways of the

world. Proclaim the Good News.

The disciples do not immediately get the memo of course. Probably no surprise there.A full week later,

they are still huddled together, still closed off from the world outside, as now Thomas, previously missing

in action, is with them. His proclaimed skepticism is probably not much different from the fear of his

fellow disciples. Doubt after all breeds insecurity, and insecurity multiplies fear. Perhaps Thomas is

simply more open about his misgivings. But it is through this Doubting Thomas that the Gospel message

comes full circle as he proclaims, “My Lord and my God,” echoing as a matter of fact the very first words

of John’s Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was

God.” The Doubting Thomas is no more.

Now, many scholars contend that the original version of John’s Gospel actually ended more or less here

with Thomas’ proclamation of Christ’s divinity. They may be right. After proclaiming, “My Lord and

my God,” there is not much more to be said. The challenge for us this morning, as we gather in

community, as we gather later this morning in our Annual General Meeting, is that we too must share in

Thomas’ proclamation. We too must overcome the fear, skepticism, and reticence of the disciples behind

closed doors. For, while our Annual General Meeting may tell us of what has been, its real purpose is to

again send us forth. With the disciples, we too are sent forth to proclaim the Gospel.

According to tradition, the Apostle Thomas made his way all the way from that locked chamber in

Jerusalem shortly after that first Easter to the shores of India, specifically to Kerela, where they still

honour him, where they still proclaim the Good News that Christ is risen, that Christ is indeed Lord and

God. So, my friends, follow in Thomas’ footprints, if you like, and go to India. I hear it is really lovely.But you need not leave Budapest to share Thomas’ faith and to proclaim the Kingdom in word and deed.

That in fact is what we are all sent forth to do. So, open the closed doors of your hearts and minds this

Easter season. And remember the words of the great twentieth-century Archbishop of Canterbury,

William Temple, “The Church is quite possibly the only organization in the world,” he said, “which exists

primarily for the sake of those still outside it.” My friends, we have our work cut out for us.

Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Frank Hegedűs