Rev. Jim Short grapples with John 20:19-31 for this first Sunday after Easter. Imagine Thomas, looking for the Resurrected Jesus, bursts into the room where the disciples are hiding in fear from the temple authorities.  They say to him, “We saw him and the marks of his crucifixion.  We were filled with joy, and he gave us peace.”  Thomas says,  “I’ll never believe it without putting my finger in the nail marks and my hand in the spear wound.”  Then, instead of meeting the Risen Christ, they say, “Look, we’ve got this ex-politician here selling the “God Bless America” Bible and he can tell you about having faith in Jesus.”

Unimaginable, you say!  Yet Christian Nationalism is on the rise all over the world and even in Canada.  Participation in Christian religious communities is declining, so where will people learn about the “true faith” of following Jesus?  Within the faith community, we must grapple with the rise of Christian nationalism as the answer more people are choosing in this time of fear, anxiety, and violence.  Yet Jesus’ meeting the disciples and Thomas offers a different kind of peace and gospel! What does it look like?