This year’s celebration of Easter was unlike any other. Here at Holy Family, like many parishes around the world, there was a somewhat muted experience. Most of us spent Easter either alone or with a few family members, tuning in to our online worship service and perhaps communicating with family members over Zoom. Many of us are carrying deep sorrow, worry, and concern about the health and wellness of our family members, friends and neighbors. Despite our difficult and current circumstances of life, there is much theological insight to be gleaned from a muted Easter.
The story of Christ’s resurrection and other stories in the Bible are filled with closed doors. It is a common phrase in the resurrection narratives: “the doors being shut for fear of the Jews.” It led them all to hide behind closed doors. God may have closed the door temporarily, but it doesn’t mean that it will stay closed forever. Sometimes God may want to redirect us to something better or something He feels we need more of at that moment. We are to trust God in those moments and wait to see where He leads us and what new doors may open. A closed door may be God’s way of refocusing our attention toward Him.
Doors! We encounter them each and every day of our lives. It is practically impossible to go throughout the day without walking through a door. Some doors are closed, which means we must reach down, turn the doorknob, and open the door before walking through it. Some doors are locked, which requires us to have the key if we want to enter through the passageway. The same situation applies to the spiritual realm, and it can be used symbolically, referring to life’s opportunities and blessings. There are times we try and try to accomplish something, taking advantage of an opportunity, but it doesn’t work out. No matter what we do, it seems the door is closed on us. We can’t get through!
In this weekend’s gospel, the disciple Thomas refused to believe that Jesus had come back to life until he personally saw him and touched his fatal wounds. Jesus then appeared in the living flesh to Thomas and the disciples and submitted to a probing physical examination. Jesus came among the fearful disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” This peace was not so much a state of mind as it was a state of being. This peace, which Jesus won for the disciples outside the doors of their hearts, is now brought inside their hearts.
When Jesus unlocked the doors of the disciples’ hearts, they became emboldened to him and stepped outside of their comfort zones, came out from behind their locked doors to fearlessly and courageously proclaim the Gospel to all who were lost. We all have our locked doors of desperation and futility. I wonder what is being unlocked and opened for you and me today and during this Easter Season. Frustration and closed doors are God’s agent of change. God uses locked doors to help us grow in faith. Locked doors become God’s agents of change.
Jesus gives us his peace, his breath, his life, and then sends us out. What locked door in our heart needs to be opened? Is it the door of fear or the lack of faith, the door of worry or some kind of dependency, or the door of un-forgiveness of yourself or others who hurt you…? Whatever it is, the Risen Lord brings freedom and new life. Jesus brings us peace, offers us peace, and embodies peace. Jesus shows up bringing us new life, offering us life, and embodying life. New life and peace are the resurrection reality. He propelled them out the doors of that room to tell others so they, too, can be released from the grip of fear. Jesus gave his disciples keys to unlock the doors of the hearts of others. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Faith points us to an initial opening of our heart and mind. Faith is our small, but necessary, “yes” to every new change we encounter.
When disappointment in the form of a closed door faces us, let us take the time to pray about it. What is God trying to tell us by closing this door? Is He trying to protect us? Redirect us? Closed doors may be a personal blessing. Let us ask God to reveal that blessing to us:
Lord, this day I will come to certain doors that are locked. May I remember this day that there is a key to every situation, a solution to every problem. May I never surrender to one of life’s locked doors. Instead, may I pray until I find the right key and the door be opened. You know exactly what we need and what doors we need to open or enter. Show us those doors. Make clear Your will and Your path for us. Guard us from selfishness and pride. Help us to walk through the door of faith, and trust You with every detail of our lives. Nothing will give us more pleasure than to know we are walking with You, giving You glory in everything we do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.