excerpt from "Surprise"
" Surprise" Shalom. Peace be with you. A greeting loaded with inspiration, challenge and God's future. A calming greeting.
Shalom, peace be with you, is God's longing that things may go well with others.
Shalom, peace be with you, is a concern for the welfare of one's fellow beings and world.
Shalom, peace be with you, is a sign of solidarity, of commitment to one another, of standing in for each other.
Shalom, peace be with you, is responsibility for each other before God and before humankind.
Shalom, peace be with you, is not some sweet by and by pie-in-the-sky, but a reality for all God's world.
The risen Lord stands before his disciples, his friends, his church and the first words of greetings are "Shalom. Peace be with you."
Then he showed them his hands and his side. They knew what to expect to see on his hands. Had they not heard the nails being driven through his hands by the Roman soldiers? And they had seen the empire pierce his side. They knew the spear's wound would have left a mark. And it did. Oh yes. It was him. It was really him. They recognized him because of his scars.
Scars are evidence. Scars are evidence left from the wound, from an injury, from a battle. Scars leave evidence that can be held against the perpetrator, the oppressor. Often enough evil seeks to destroy completely so that there will be no evidence to hold up against it.
Now listen to the good news the church proclaims about Jesus the Christ. The evidence of the battle with injustice is still on his body. The verdict is clear. Death where is your sting? Death where is your victory? The scars are evidence that death has been disarmed of its sting - debunked of its false victory. But our friend Thomas, one of the twelve, was not present for this wonderful surprise party. When he returned and was told of the good news, Thomas was not easily convinced. Thomas wanted to see for himself and not only see - but touch as well. Let us not judge Thomas too harshly. After all, imagine how many counterfeit Messiahs one must contend with. At the end of this second millennium, we too are not quick to believe without a sure reason – some proof. Thomas was in no hurry to believe the first report that came. I can see Thomas saying, "Let's have some I.D. please."
Face to face with the wounds and the scars, face to face with the risen Lord who does not hide behind some picture perfect mask, face to face with the risen Lord who wears the scars of history and yet dares to speak on forgiveness, a risen Lord who will not allow the past to mute God's future, Thomas: Shalom. You see, it is not in seeing that we believe. But by believing, suddenly the scales fall off and we are finally able to say "Ah! Now I see!"
It should not be surprising to us that Jesus continues to reach out to us – to come to us, urging us to believe. Without animosity Jesus offers us life – and surprise – more life. What a great surprise it is to be a Christ follower – shalom. Please pray with me.
Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord 
April 11, 2010
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