As You Are
The gift of reason affords the human creature self-awareness and awareness of others. In a quite developed way, we are social creatures. For you to know another person and relate to that person depends on many factors. Time, communication proximity, affinity—all these things factor into opportunities we take for relationships.
People sometimes speak of a relationship with God. God does not have the limitations we have which restrict our capacity for relationships. It’s a striking implication of the Christian Faith that God would connect with us, allowing us to connect with God. We accept it as the revelation that the Preexistent One who caused it all is social. God is Trinity, three divine Persons in the unity of being and essence. So, we say God is intrinsically social. Furthermore, we believe this relational God desires to relate with us. A radical belief: the Being through whom all beings came to exist seeks a relationship with all, in love.
However, limited our knowledge and capacity for relationship is, the Creator has no such limitation. Timing, geography, affinity: none of these things restrict God’s availability for relationships. The appearance stories of the Resurrected Christ in the Gospels have a message along these lines. I have come to see several of them as revealing God’s unlimited availability to us. Ten of the chosen apostles were in the upper room with the doors closed when, without notice, Jesus is suddenly standing among them. Two other followers are on the road out of Jerusalem on their way to Emmaus, when they encounter a stranger, whom they come to discover is no stranger, it is the Risen Christ.
You see, closed and locked doors do not prevent Christ’s presence with disciples. The distance way down the road is no separation for Jesus to make himself known to fleeing followers. This Sunday, we will ponder a classic part of the unfolding mystery of Christ, risen and connecting with his followers. The apostle, Thomas, had not been with the ten others who had encountered Jesus in the upper room. One week later, it was a Sunday, he was with them, and suddenly Jesus was present with them, addressing Thomas who had not believed the stories of the others. His master invited Thomas to inspect his hands and feet to see that it was him, his blessed teacher, who had been crucified.
The lessons from this story of Thomas are many, I am sure. It has been the subject of countless sermons and classes. The simple lesson I embrace presently is that Jesus is ever-living and consummately available. God seeks a relationship with you. You could be discouraged, or doubting, shut away behind closed doors or shut down emotionally, Jesus is there for you. The Risen Christ meets you as you are. Whenever it is, wherever you are, whatever state you are in, Jesus meets you. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Christ is risen, and because of that, the God of love can connect with you. What seems like restrictions or barriers to you are overcome by the love of God. The living God will see to it—the relationship is available. You are connected in love, as soon as you say to God something akin to what Thomas said to his Risen Teacher, “My Lord and my God! Jesus meets you as you are.