Drug Violence, Swine Flu, and Earthquakes: Reflections on John 20:19-31

The past several weeks my community of faith has been celebrating Easter, the resurrection of the Christ. In this celebratory time of our Christian calendar, we celebrate God’s vindication of Jesus’ life in the resurrection. We proclaim the life of Jesus as divine, and seek to go out and live likewise. We are claimed and called, as a community of faith, to go out into the world in Easter celebration to witness and proclaim God’s love in this world. The news of the day from El Norte and from my perspective in Mexico, however, is different from this gospel message. The current news tells us to stay inside, don’t go to Mexico, it’s dangerous. How is it that we as a community of faith are called into the world, yet are continuously informed of the many dangers that lie just outside our front (or back) doors?

A couple Sundays ago, most of us heard a biblical passage from the gospel of John, including the account of Thomas. This is the familiar passage where Doubting Thomas says, “I’ll never believe [in Jesus’ resurrection] without putting my finger in the nail marks and my hand in the spear wound.” Then, Jesus invites just that: the examination of the wounds inflicted upon him during his crucifixion. Upon examination, Doubting Thomas proclaims, “My Savior and my God!” He has seen the resurrected Christ in the flesh, he is able to feel the scars, and he looks upon the mortal wounds inflicted upon our Savior just days earlier. Thomas had no room left to doubt.

Undoubtedly, those of us sitting in the pews the week after Easter Sunday heard this story. We also probably heard a sermon drawing on, and illustrating, the power and witness of the resurrected Christ in our world today. I fully hear Jesus’ proclamation to Thomas: “You’ve become a believer because you saw me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

While I fully hear the hopeful wisdom in Jesus’ words, I would also like to note the setting of this passage, especially in light of current events that link Mexico and the USA even more closely.

The disciples had locked themselves in their room for fear of the authorities.

Fear.

Fear that the authorities might do to the disciples as they had done to Jesus. The authorities were, in fact, powerful enough to cause reason to fear and doubt.

A look at Jesus’ life helps us to see that he proclaimed God’s reign by crossing borders. He healed the sick, broke bread with outcasts, and forgave sins, creating a new way for God’s people to live. Throughout Jesus’ life, we see borders crossed and the new life that comes in the wake of speaking and acting boldly in a world living in fear.

In recent months and days in Mexico, I have heard a similar fear that has led to many questions about crossing the border. Today we experienced a minor earthquake in Mexico. Today we live through the unfolding of the Swine Flu outbreak and wonder what news will come next. U.S. officials suggest not traveling to Mexico. Mexico’s government has closed schools, museums, and sporting events. Last month we read warnings from U.S. officials not to travel to Mexico because of the violence between warring drug cartels. These concerns of violence continue today. Each headline increases the level of fear for those who live here, and for those thinking about traveling to Mexico.

I am not writing to dismiss the valid concerns people have about current event in Mexico. We should be cautious. The violence – while typically isolated between drug cartels – is gruesome. The Swine Flu – though not at pandemic proportions – has led to death in our community. We, as a community of faith, must continue to pray for an end to the violence so that communities may live in peace. We must continue to pray for those whose loved ones have died here in Mexico because of the Swine Flu.

We, as a community of faith, should recognize that the bombardment of warnings thrown at us about health and safety do create a level of fear. We should recognize this fear, but not be bound up by it. I am concerned that this fear will take hold of us in such a way that it prevents us from living the lives that God has called us to live.

Rather than the passage leaving readers with a sense of fear, Scripture leave us with peace. Peace be with you. These are the first words out of Jesus in the midst of the frightened disciples, and words he repeats throughout the account. As our community of faith seeks to live out God’s call on our lives we need to be cautious. At the same time, we are wise to distinguish between the caution that allows us to live freely in a world, and the fears that keeps us locked up behind closed doors and borders.

God’s peace be with you.

~Luke