For Sunday, April 27th 2025: "Peace Be With You" (John 20:19-31 NRSV)

Lectionary Scripture:  John 20:19-31 NRSV

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

AND ACTS 5:27-32 (NRSV)

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Reflection on the Scripture:

Spring of 2002, Professor Walter Wink was teaching biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City when a sermon or article of his appeared bearing the title "The Vision Spreads".  In the article he focused on the above scripture, made several points, and asked many questions such as the following:  

Why were the disciples arrested? Key to the growth of the early church (and Pentecostal and charismatic churches today) are healing and exorcism.  Why have we largely abandoned these ministries? Jesus understood healing and exorcism as signs of the breaking-in of God's domination-free order ("the kingdom of God"). How have we let our theologies stand in the way of God's healing and liberating activity? In what ways are we "jealous" (5:17) of those who do engage in this ministry? In what ways do they also truncate (i.e. shorten or abbreviate) the gospel?

Professor Wink continues that God initiates civil disobedience by freeing the disciples from jail (Acts 5:19). The civil authorities act perplexed and confused that the uneducated illiterate disciples refuse to be cowed by the command from the authorities not to preach any more in Jesus' name.  The Disciple Peter boldly declares back to the authorities that it is they (the ruling oligarchy) who are responsible for killing Jesus who is the initiator, revealer, and implementer of God's new order.  Per Peter, God's "new thing" is already happening and the nobody disciples speak back to the somebody authorities.

The nobodies say: "We must obey God rather than any human authority".  Which means the unveiling of a whole new authority, not acquired by wealth or property or political clout, but by observing the naked truth of what God really intends for humanity. The disciples see it. They want it. They will die, if they must, for it. The authorities, sensing this, tremble, and fall back on judicial threats.

The Pharisee Gamaliel comes to the rescue, he is one of the somebodies in this exchange and warns the civil authorities, "The enemy is never as monolithic as we think. In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Gamaliel's speech persuaded the authorities and they called in the disciples, had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus again and let them go.  The next day the disciples return to the Temple and resumed their preaching, teaching, healing and rejoicing, counting themselves fortunate to have suffered in Christ's name.  As Professor Wink observes, a movement that might have been strangled at birth explodes into the world.  In closing the article, Wink asks, "How is the gospel being silenced today? What part are we playing in this silencing? Who tells us to be silent? Or are we censoring ourselves? If, with a single microphone, you could reach the entire world, what one thing would you say, write, or share?"

Well, as a psychotherapist who stills considers himself engaged in ministering to the needs of others, and as I long ago learned that I cannot reach the entire world, there's clearly a portion of Humanity that will never be persuaded as to the "new thing" and "new order" that God intends to replace the "old order".  The Disciple Thomas as noted in the scripture above from the Gospel of John, remains clearly stuck in the "old order" -- however he will be persuaded that there is something new to embrace.

The "old order" of humankind typically wants no persuasion to something else.  They want 1) authoritarianism, 2) social dominance over others, 3) unchecked bigotry and prejudice, 4) association only with those like-minded to them, and lastly 5) economics that benefit them alone and no one else.  Most individuals recognize the foregoing as Fascism -- plain and simple.

For those of you like Thomas who resonate with God's "new thing" and "new order", I would share via this microphone moment -- words of counsel from a blessing I received so very long ago.  Please welcome the following words into your own heart and let their peace be yours:

".....strive to develop the discipline of the spiritual, upward look: yea, no matter where you are, as you go about your daily activities, cultivate the habit, the discipline of letting your heart, your mind go up unto your Maker, silently and reverently, not only for your own needs, but also for the needs of those who are around about you…., “Counsel the Lord thy God in all thy doings, and He shall direct thee for good…., Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

"May the Spirit of Light and Truth come to you frequently to illuminate your mind so that you may see the true and proper relationships of truths expressed in various fields of human experiences.  You are blessed with the Spirit of the Comforter…., even The One who stands by to help.

Peace be with you, 

Brad Shumate, Founder

Free of Encumbrance

Spokane Valley, WA

(Comments welcomed at: brad@freeofencumbrance.net -- comments are moderated and published at end of this post as they are received and if appropriate for sharing)

For Sunday April 20th 2025: "All Will Be Made Alive" (Easter)

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Lectionary Scripture:

I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (NIV)

Lectionary Reflection:

I came across a question for small group discussion for the above scripture.  It seemed a good thought to reflect upon at this time in our existence.  It is in fact an existential question, or in other words, an intense deep inquiry into the meaning and purpose of life, death, and one's place -- or our collective place -- in the world.  The question is, "What is your deepest hope this Easter?"

My deepest hope, even my most fervent prayer this Easter, is for resurrection of  national leader(s), even World Leaders, who truly care about the concept of "We The People".  My ardent desire is for leaders who instill dreams, vision, and action for the betterment of the Common Good.  If "The Common Good" is an unfamiliar term, perhaps the following definition from the United Kingdom website "Together for the Common Good" will be helpful:

"The Common Good is the shared life of a society in which everyone can flourish - as we act together in different ways that all contribute towards that goal, enabled by social conditions that mean every single person can participate. We create these conditions and pursue that goal by working together across our differences, each of us taking responsibility, according to our calling and ability."

 

With the 2024 American Presidential Election, the majority of the citizens of the United States considered "The Common Good" to be an anathema and returned the power of POTUS to an individual and his followers who would rather break things, crush people's spirits, and per Fareed Zakaria's 3/2/25 op-ed piece in "The Washington Post" achieve a complete "....reorienting of America's moral compass away from being a force for good in the world".

As a skilled helper over the past forty-five years, with nearly equal portions of time in behavioral healthcare and professional ministry, I have become well-acquainted with the pathological aspects of persons, groups, communities, institutions, corporations, and other various entities for whom "The Common Good" is anathema -- something so vehemently hated that it must be destroyed.

For instance, the current POTUS inherited a strong and thriving economy.  He hates that kind of circumstance.  Instead, he loves a bad economy.  And that is exactly what he is setting about to make happen -- to break and crush and destroy the economy he inherited.  He pursues this because he persuaded the majority of Americans that he would make their lives better from Day One if again given the power of "The POTUS".  And so, the 5th November 2024, America made that happen and "The POTUS" began to break, crush, and destroy the world's economy for you and for me and for anyone else's dreams and hopes for the future.  As a YouTube video posted April 6th 2025 informs us, "The POTUS" shared via a History Channel Series in 2012 how and why he wants a bad economy:

From POTUS machinations with the economy, all is too clear even from "The POTUS" how only the ultra wealthy are to benefit:

As for most other non-billionaires and non-millionaires, I am guessing that you, like me, saw no windfall profits hit our bank accounts during the recent off-and-on again trade-war tariff machinations of "The POTUS" as noted in the video clip above --- something that happened for a few but not for all.  This is the same kind of shame that Jesus called out and said why he was sent to us as shared in the Gospel According to Luke, Chapter Four:

"When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."

It is impossible to know how much time passed between the event above to when Jesus established for in perpetuity the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but this we do know from John Chapter 13:1-7 and 31-35 (NRSV):

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.  And when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Today is Maundy Thursday of Easter Holy Week. Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we commemorate as the day Jesus was crucified.  Let us remember that the day of the passion of the Christ was a time not unlike when powers akin to The POTUS then took away from us, a gentle loving insightful teacher and prophet and penniless healer who could only be explained by the words, "Surely, this was the Son of God."  It is only selflessness like that of Jesus that "All Will Be Made Alive" -- no other moral compass is needed -- especially not that of "The POTUS" today.

As I started to end the writing of this post -- my doorbell rang.  Answering the door, four pre-teen children stood before me, all of them wearing black shirts and black pants.  They asked, "Do you have a lawn mower we could use to mow your lawn?  We only ask that you only pay us five dollars."  I said, "I have a lawn mower but it's in such bad shape that it would more likely injure you than help your intention -- but thank you for asking."  As they turned to leave, they said, "You have a good Easter."  The moment made me alive in ways I have not felt for a long time.  I wished I had some cash I could have just given them.  Instead, I have hope that from their number will arise future leaders with new dreams and visions for "The Common Good".

May God's Peaceable Reign Come Soon Upon the Earth!

Brad Shumate, Founder - Free of Encumbrance

Spokane Valley, WA

(Comments welcomed at: brad@freeofencumbrance.net)