Its Eucatastrophic!

Every group and community seems to have one. You know the one I mean... the realist. Sesame Street has Oscar the Grouch; Snow White and the other dwarves had Grumpy; The Peanuts Gang have Lucy. The apostles have Thomas. These folks kept every one else grounded and real with what was going on around them. And I can remember going to church and hearing sermons that would come down on Thomas for having doubts about what he was being told and demanding the same kinds of proof and experiences that everyone else had when Jesus came through the locked doors.

Thomas wants what everyone had already had – the chance to meet the risen Lord Jesus face to face. When he gets that chance Jesus challenges him by telling him that “Blessed are those who have not seen but yet still believe.” It is a reminder that there is more to faith than knowledge. We can know something. And that knowledge can make us feel secure because we think we know all about it. We are called to more than just knowledge and proof: we are called to faith and to hope. We can trust the things that have been revealed to the Church by God. There are things that we can know. And for the things that we don’t know yet, and for the things we cannot be sure of, there is hope because God is here.

                                                                                       

That very thought helped me to learn a new word this week from my favourite author, J.R.R. Tolkien. The word? Eucatastrophe. Now you are probably wondering what that is or what the word means. It is maybe better if I use Tolkien’s own work to help me describe what a eucatastrophe is. In essence it is the unpredicted redemption in the face of an unimaginable loss. Throughout the tales of “the Hobbit” and “the Lord of the Rings” there is on group that constantly comes to the rescue of those who are trying to make things right. So whether it is the eagles rescuing Thorin Oakenshield and his company from the trees as the goblins and wargs attack or as Aragorn and his friend battle the orcs and other monsters at the Black Gate in the great final battle to destroy the Ring and Lord Sauron with it. Sam and Frodo waited for the end of all things when Gandalf comes in with the eagles to rescue them from the Mountain of Doom after the ring is destroyed. Surrounded by molten lava they were redeemed after completing a task that was supposed all along by those who sent them to be fatal.

The disciples hadn't understood that Jesus was going to rescue them after the crucifixion. They believed that with Jesus dead, their ministry shattered and their hopes gone of a Messianic age, they would be next to be sought and killed. There was a lot of “shock and awe” at Jesus’ appearance precisely because they thought no one was going to get in. Or at least they weren't going to get in easily... Jesus arrived undetected and unexpected amongst them in that upper room. It’s the same upper room in which Jesus washed their feet. It’s the same room from which Judas went to betray Jesus and had him over. It’s same room where Jesus commanded them to love each other as he loved them.

And as for Thomas and Peter, neither of them was there for that moment. Each where dealt with in their own way and in a time and manner that was of the Lord’s choosing. Thomas needed to learn to rejoice at what he was being told and Peter will need to learn the price of denial. Both will be brought back within the fold, but on Jesus’ terms.

Perhaps, some of the best news out of the Gospels is that the original followers are shown to be as clueless as we feel at time. They did have it all together and didn’t understand it all. They understood enough that there was a need to have faith in what they could know and hope for the things that could not, at least for the moment, be comprehended. So it is true, “blessed are you who choose to trust even when you have no proof, for your faith will be proven soon.” So go and live the risen life with Christ, for Christ and in Christ.

Jason+