Behind locked doors.

This is where we find the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection.

Behind locked doors.

Rather than trusting in the good news of the risen Christ, the disciples hide behind locked doors, telling themselves they were keeping the Jews out, when really they were maybe keeping themselves locked in.

But these locked doors are no barrier to the risen Christ. Despite their fear, despite their locked doors, Jesus is in their midst. Offering the gift of peace.

Along with this gift of peace, Jesus gives the disciples a great responsibility. “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” It is time not only to unlock the door, but to go out into the world, proclaim the resurrection and bring God’s message of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation to all.

And so, the disciples do just that…they go out and spread word of the risen Christ to the disciple who was not with them…Thomas.

But Thomas’ reaction is one of fear. Fear that leads him to hide behind locked doors. Thomas is afraid to believe unless he sees the marks, and puts his hand into Jesus’ side.

But Thomas’ locked doors are no barrier to the risen Christ. Despite his fear, despite his locked door, Jesus is in his midst. But Jesus doesn’t scold Thomas or get mad at him and yell at him for being afraid. Jesus offers Thomas the gift of peace.

Jesus invites Thomas to join in the community. A community that is being invited to move beyond the locked doors and to proclaim the resurrection out into the world.

As a senior who will be graduating in June, I too find myself being invited to move beyond the locked doors and into the world. In January, I was offered a job position with the Seattle Archdiocese Liturgy Office.

Friends and family congratulated me,

Told me “You’ll do great!” and that the Archdiocese is lucky to have me, and how I should be grateful to have a job six months before I graduate.
I am grateful, but I am also fearful.
  • Fearful to unlock the door from this wonderful SU community,
  • Fearful to go out into the world,
  • Fearful of this greater destiny God calls me to…calls us all to.

But we all, sometimes, hide behind locked doors. We put up walls when we’ve been embarrassed or because of our brokenness, or we think we lack the courage or self-esteem needed to step out into the world. It’s easy to just bolt the door in fear.

But remember that the risen Christ breaks through these locked doors. He offers us the same four words that he gave to the disciples and to Thomas… “Peace be with you.”


Let us ask ourselves:

“Where in our lives are we behind locked doors?

Because the risen Christ will find us. He offers us peace and will send us out into the world to proclaim this peace to others.

So, as we enter into the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and are sent forth with the peace of the risen Christ, may we remember that we are literally, allowing Jesus to enter into the locked doors of our hearts.

May he give us the strength and courage to step out of our locked doors, and go out into the world, and proclaim to others who, like us, have not seen the risen Christ, so that they too, may come to believe.