See the Scars – Hear the Witness
Awe and wonder. Those words can’t even begin to describe how incredibly spine tingly awesome it was to watch the solar eclipse as the moon started to move across the face of the sun. As the moon progressed, it started to get cooler outside - I pulled on my sweatshirt even though I had been in shirtsleeves just moments before. As I and a group of witnesses watched and waited, wearing our safety glasses and peering through telescopes - a community of sorts formed. Students from the local community college were taking advantage of the crowd to sell home-made cookies as a service project. Locals as well as folks from St. Louis, Chicago, Roseville and other places, traded stories and telescope views. And then, as the sky got darker, we watched as the horizon –all 360 degrees -- started to turn the pink and orange colors of a sunset – even though the sun was still high in the sky. The birds began to sing their night song. The street lights came on. Our eyes were all glued to the sky as the sunlight began to fade and the moon moved to cover the sun. And then… at precisely 2:04 PM local time, a shout erupted as the moon covered the sun – except for the outside corona. People were on their feet cheering. I had tears in my eyes and my heart was full of praise of God. It was wonder – FULL. We were witnesses of this beautiful event.
Jesus could have made a spectacular reentry - with a robe of stars and the sun and moon tucked under each arm. He could have arranged to emerge from an eclipse. That would have been flashy. But instead… Jesus shows up and shows the disciples his scars.
That’s not all Jesus does. Jesus also eats a fish, proving to the disciples that he is not a ghost, does an amazing Bibles study that opens their minds to understand the scriptures, promises the gift of repentance and forgiveness of sins and then declares them to be witnesses. There is a lot going on in this passage. But what caught my attention this time was that Jesus begins by showing his scars. Jesus doesn’t come back from the dead healed with perfect child-like skin as if he had been to a plastic surgeon. He doesn’t make a flashy entrance. Instead, he comes back and shows his disciples his scars.
Scars tell a story. Jesus’ scars remind the disciples –and us -- that Jesus was really crucified, was really dead, was really put in a tomb. The scars are still there. And yet… Jesus is alive. You are my witnesses.
I remember when my kids were little, we stayed overnight at a friend’s house on a New Year’s Eve. In the morning, all the kids went outside to go sledding. They were having a good time. I wasn’t worried at all. Until… one of the older kids rushed in and said, “Your son went over the embankment.” Aghast, I went to put my boots on. But before I could get out the door, in walked my son, his face was full of blood and bleeding profusely. The other mom – a nurse by trade - gave me some towels and said, “You don’t know where the cut is, so start from the bottom up.” So, I did. I started at his chin and began sopping up the blood. And as I worked my way up his face, not finding the cut, I found myself praying “thank you God…thank you God”… as I worked up past the lips and nose and then the eyes… I kept praying “thank you God”. Finally, I reached the hairline… and there was a very small but deep gash. We did take a trip to the emergency room for stiches. It is now only a slight scar – which at times I can see if I look for it. When I see it, I’m reminded that I’m a witness of God’s healing hand.
Do you have a scar? Do you have a story? I do. I’m reminded about it every time I look at my knee. I remember that day I ran across the street without looking for traffic. I also remember, with gratitude, that while the scar is large, I received the gift of healing for my head and my leg and my life. I’m a witness of God’s healing and God’s grace.
Scars can heal but there is always a story. In fact, I think that no one gets through this life without scars of one kind or another. Sometimes they are the result of what, in retrospect, seems like a stupid thing – like my neglecting to look both ways before crossing a street. At other times, like my son, they are the result of an accident. No one was to blame. And sometimes, like for Jesus, the scars tell the story of what someone did to you. Those are the wounds that can be most painful.
We are a people scarred by life, but, regardless of the source of the pain and the scars, the good news is that Jesus can heal your wounds – regardless of what the wound may be. It’s not magic. It may take time. But Jesus is more than able to heal our wounds.
One of the ways that Jesus heals us is, as he says in today’s Gospel, through repentance and the forgiveness of sins. This is especially true for the wounds that you have received – and inflicted on others -- by the things that you have done and for the good and right things you have not done. For all of these hurts, Jesus offers repentance and forgiveness. This is Christ’s free gift for you.
After we receive this gift of forgiveness, we are empowered and set free to forgive others who may have hurt us. This is not something that happens automatically or easily. But when we receive the gift of love and forgiveness, it opens our hearts and our lives to share that gift with others.
Renewed by God’s gift of love and inspired we are able to be a witness to God’s love and then to act as Jesus’ hands and feet, caring for others and loving others, just as we have been loved.
Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, who are forgiven, renewed and healed, Jesus calls you as a witness to proclaim God’s love and faithfulness. You are a witness of what God has done for you – and for the whole world. And, because of YOUR witness, others can not only hear the Good News of Jesus but experience it too. Thanks be to God!
Faith-Lilac Way + April 14, 2024 + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane