What Do Memorials Bring To Mind?
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.” 26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:24-29
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This is Memorial Day Weekend. Though several communities claim to have originated Memorial Day, in 1966 the United States government proclaimed Waterloo, New York the birthplace of the holiday. The people of Waterloo first observed Memorial Day on May 5, 1866, to honor soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Businesses were closed, people decorated soldiers’ graves and flags were flown at half-mast. While there are states that have their own days for this observance, the last Monday in May was made a federal holiday by law in 1971. A uniquely patriotic observance, Memorial Day honors military personnel who gave their lives for their country. This celebration was created to provide an opportunity for us to remember those whose contributions we remember and honor. There are those who have given their “last full measure of devotion,” to use a phrase from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. There are those whose immeasurable contributions have made possible the privileges we enjoy today. They deserve to be remembered. Although the day specifically recognizes military personnel, there are those who remember their loved ones and others also for the inestimable impact, influence and inspiration of their lives.
This weekend will feature a reflection on the Black Wall Street Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma that decimated a thriving black community. This was one of the many violent attacks on black communities that were thriving culturally, economically and socially. Lest we forget the violence perpetrated on black communities and their continuing effects.
Consider who and why you cherish the memory of those who have been an influence and inspiration in your life.
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24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.” John 20:24-25
The passage of scripture provides some useful insights concerning the observance that focuses our attention today. This is a post-resurrection scene. The disciples were gathered together reflecting as well as assessing what had happened and what it all meant to them. A devastating development followed an amazing announcement. Though their hopes were dashed and their dreams were shattered, something startling sparked new hope in those fearful persons who were hiding. They witnessed the strife with truth and falsehood, with life and death, with right and wrong, and were trying to make sense of what they can do now. While waiting and processing what had happened and what it all meant they were encountered by a reality that settled all their doubts and fears. Jesus appears, speaks a word of peace to them, and then shows them his hands and his side. Thomas was not present. We do not know where he was. When told by the others what had happened, Thomas said that he would not believe unless he had the same experience as the others. A week later, the request Thomas made is honored. Jesus appears and permits him to touch his nail-pierced hands and his spear pierced side.
Barbara K. Lundblad, associate professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary in New York, says this is a convincing scene but it is also strange and odd. She comes to this part of the story longing to ask questions that children ask before they know better: “If God raised Jesus from the dead, why didn’t God fix him up?” “Why does Jesus have scars so deep you can see and feel them?” We quickly give the child’s answer. This is how the disciples knew for certain that it was Jesus. Come now. Mary knew simply by hearing her name called aloud in the garden. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus at the table when he broke bread. There is no mention of wounded hands. Why are there scars in this story? There must be something to the scars.
Memorials bring to our mind that existence is filled with blemishes, disfigurements, marks, scars and wounds. We are not all fixed up. We are messed up. That may be difficult for us to claim. We are “Born in sin and shapen in iniquity” (Psalm 51:5-6). “The good that we would, we do not, but the evil we don’t want to do, we find ourselves doing” (Romans 7:19).
We live with reminders of our vulnerabilities, memories of what has caused us to be disfigured, hurt, injured, pained and wounded. We do not commemorate what caused the wound even though we don’t forget it. We look to get beyond what has
scarred us. As we reflect on the memory of what has happened, we celebrate the aftermath of what we discover.
Consider what it means that scars are reminders of our vulnerabilities.
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26A 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.” 27Then 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.” John 20:26-27
Notice how the scene unfolds. After allaying their fears, Jesus shows the disciples his hands and his side. Even though he was raised to life from death, he still, in the language of a childish explanation, “wasn’t all fixed up”. He still possessed scars. Those scars serve as indelible reminders of the sacrifice, the submission, and the suffering that make up life’s experiences.
The story of our lives can be traced in our scars. Look and you will see why God didn’t remove the scars. The scars tell us what memorials bring to mind. Scars are evidence that an injury has occurred. Scars are proof that harm was done. Scars are a reminder that healing is possible. Memorials bring to mind that we have been injured, that damage was done, and that healing is possible.
Consider what it means that the story of our lives can be traced in our scars.
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26A 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.” 27Then 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.” John 20:26-27
In the first instance, scars bring to mind that life’s injuries expose our vulnerability.
This is not an idyllic world where we are insulated against “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (Hamlet, Act III, Scene I / To Be, or Not To Be). Yes, misfortune visits us all, taking up residence in our domicile reminding us of our vulnerability. We are vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt. We are exposed to danger, sometimes defenseless, helpless, and weak. We live with the uncertainty of what a day will bring.
Scars are evidence of our injuries. Scars abound in an infinite variety. There are physical scars from accidents, injuries, and surgeries. There are emotional scars from abuse, mistreatment, and oppression; creating the climate for post-traumatic stress disorder. There are psychological scars / mental scars diminishing the quality of life with a lasting impact of their hurt. These are the scars we cannot see and sometimes don’t share with others. Every person has some mental scars that mold that person into who they are.
Then, there are spiritual scars: the spirit of a person is so wounded that people live in doubt and fear all of their lives. No one is exempt from being scared. Everyone has them. We are all susceptible to being scared because we are all vulnerable to getting hurt.
Loss is probably one of the greatest injuries we experience in life. We are mortally wounded and greatly hurt by loss. Loss reminds us of our vulnerability. More than 600,000 people lost their lives during the pandemic and we are still counting.
“We are not the captain of our fate, nor the master of our souls.” (Invictus by William Ernest Henley)
Out of the night that covers me, / Black as the pit from pole to pole, / I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul. / In the fell clutch of circumstance / I have not winced nor cried aloud. / Under the bludgeoning of chance / My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears / Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years / Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate, / How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate: / I am the captain of my soul.
This sounds good, but that is not always the case. We are frail creatures of clay and dust. The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak and vulnerable; subject to being disfigured, hurt, harmed, maimed etc.
Consider the scars that have reminded you of your vulnerability whether emotional, mental, physical, psychological etc.
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27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:27-29
In the second instance, scars bring to mind the vicissitudes that caused the damage and injury.
Scars remind us of the circumstances or incidents that accompany our vulnerability. Illnesses of all sorts, wars, and violence are all so prevalent. Abuse and misuse of all kinds are so widespread. The extent of the damage done by injuries is horrendous.
With a complete war history, there is a documentary that spans America's involvement in the Civil War (650,000 deaths) / World War I (53,402 deaths fell to the enemy and another 63,114 to other causes) / World War II (405,399 deaths) / Korean War (36,516 deaths) / Vietnam War (58,209 deaths) / and many additional deaths in the Gulf War / Iraq and Afghanistan.
Added to that would be the domestic violence perpetrated by misuse of power and responsibility whether collectively, individually, morally, politically, and socially.
Situations remind us of the circumstances and the painful predicaments that produced the scars with which we live. The carnage left in the wake of such circumstances are lives destroyed, loss, maimed, and irreparably damaged.
War is never the answer. People in areas where violence abounds can be taught other ways to solve conflicts and to restore healing and hope in a broken and divided world. Let us claim the promise of Jesus that we will never walk alone.
There was a song of some years ago entitled, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.
There’s too many of you crying / Brother, brother, brother / There’s far too many of you dying. You know we’ve got to find a way / To bring some lovin’ here today, eh eh.
Father, father / We don’t need to escalate / You see, war is not the answer.
For only love can conquer hate / You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today.
The poetess Dorothea Day responded to William Ernest Henley with a poem entitled, “My Captain.”
Out of the night that dazzles me, / Bright as the sun from pole to pole, / I thank the God I know to be, / For Christ the conqueror of my soul.
Since His the sway of circumstance / I would not wince nor cry aloud / Under the rule which men call chance / My head with joy is humbly bowed.
Beyond this place of sin and tears / That life with Him! And His the aid / Despite the menace of the years / Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid / I have no fear, though strait the gate / He cleared from punishment the scroll / Christ is the master of my fate / Christ is the captain of my soul.
We say with the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” II Corinthians 4:7-12
Consider what it means to trust Jesus as the master of our fate and the captain of your soul.
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28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:28-29
In the final instance, scars bring to mind that healing is possible despite the extent of the damage.
Scars form where there has been damage beneath the surface of the skin. Consider the variety of circumstances in which you were hurt below the surface to where the disruption and damage left a lasting reminder of what occurred. Generally, damage below the surface is where there is connective tissue which produces scars.
When an injury heals, new connective tissue forms. Then, a new epidermis covers the injured area, thus the scar. While you are not all fixed up, you are able to get up and go on with life and living with renewed commitment, focus, and purpose.
America’s scars are chronicled in the birth of our nation from its inception; in the wars that have been fought, the lives that have been abused, misused, the prejudices that have been perpetrated, the injustices that have been promulgated were the ordeals from which this democratic republic developed with the possibility of living out the creed of its faith.
Accountability is demanded to offset the devastating injuries caused by irresponsibility, insensitivity, and ignorance, whether intentional or unintentional. Imagine a political party being high jacked and waylaid by a perpetrator of fear, doubt, lies, disinformation, and deceit.
We can form the connective tissue that will heal the hurts. Our scars throughout our history remind us that healing is possible.
Thomas was healed from doubt by faith, healed from doubt and disinformation to faith and fortitude, courage, strength, resilience, endurance, and determination.
We can be healed from the paralysis of painful injuries to productive positive participation in making life better not bitter. The disciples were healed of their paralysis with purpose.
The pandemic has made us aware of our vulnerability with injuries that have killed more than 600,000. We are healing with the vaccinations, the lessening of the restrictions imposed by regulations to maintain our safety.
We can be healed from helpless to becoming hopeful, healed of succumbing to injustice by being empowered to get justice.
Consider what it means that your scars remind you of the possibility of being healed despite the damage you endured.
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28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:28-29
Conclusion
Scars are a reminder of our vulnerability. Scars are a reminder of our vicissitudes (changing circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant). Scars are a reminder of our victory.
God did not fix Jesus up so we would know that we have a victory, even though we are not all fixed up.
I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory / How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, of his precious blood's atoning, / Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.
O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew him and all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing / of His cleansing pow'r revealing / How He made the lame to walk again / and caused the blind to see / And then I cried, "Dear Jesus / Come and heal my broken spirit," / And somehow Jesus came and brought / to me the victory.
O victory in Jesus / My Savior, forever / He sought me and bought me / with His redeeming blood / He loved me ere I knew Him / And all my love is due Him / He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
Consider how you have been victorious despite the vicissitudes to which you were vulnerable.
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