When you drive around the North Country you will spot many churches with a variety of signs. Some of the Protestant churches tell you what the title of the Sunday sermon will - at least you have some assurance that the preacher has prepared a sermon in advance. There are church signs that indicate the church is for all people, a church with wonderful choirs, friendly atmosphere, outreach to the poor, singles' ministry, ample parking, family-life centers, 12 step programs, active youth ministry - some church signs even advertise bingo.

When you contrast all these churches with all of their programs - when you contrast them with the very early church - those disciples in today's gospel, something startling sticks out. The 11 disciples gathered in that upper room are a church with no plan, no promise, no programs, no perky youth ministry, no social justice committee, no parking lot. It was a chaotic little church. St. John's gospel tells us they were locked in the Upper Room. St. Luke's gospel today tells us they were frightened, in panic, their minds incredulous. This terrified little band huddled in the corner of a room with a chair braced against the door had only one thing going for it: the risen Christ. In the final analysis, this is a story about how the risen Christ pushed open the bolted door of a church with nothing - the risen Christ enters the fearful chambers of every church and fills the place with his own life. The room was haunted by absence, and was full of bitter sweet memories. It was here the Lord had washed their feet and celebrated the Last Supper with them. But it was also here that they had sworn loyalty to Jesus, a loyalty which did not even see the night through. The apostles were wounded by fear, doubt, guilt, grief and despair. Their unity was broken - Judas was dead and Thomas was going through a crisis of faith.

Jesus did not wait for them to come to him. He came to them, while they were still fearful and guilt-ridden. He did not blame them or even scold them for failing him. There was no blame, no recrimination. He knew how they were feeling. He did not rub salt into their wounds, instead he brought them something they desperately needed. He said to them, "Peace be with you." He said it not once but twice to make sure it sank in. They received both his peace and his forgiveness.

Suddenly the greatness and wonder of it struck them: death had been overcome, evil had been overcome, their sins and betrayal had been overcome. God was faithful, God had triumphed, love had triumphed, life had triumphed over all of the evil forces. A fresh start was possible.

Our God is exceptionally gentle with us. There was no harshness in Jesus. The humble Jesus, who triumphed over death, gave courage to his crushed apostles, healed their wounds, renewed their hope, gave them life and empowered them. From utter collapse and failure, something totally and utterly new arose. They not only believed in Christ, they believed in themselves. What a joy it is to be fully known with all of our weaknesses and fully loved at the same time.

Easter does not take away our pains or remove our fears - Easter does not make life perfect for us. But Easter does introduce a new element into our lives. Easter gives a meaning to our pain. It fills our life with hope. All is different because Jesus is alive and speaks his words of peace to us as he spoke them to the first church in that upper room. In our moments of failure or fear, our times of doubt or disappointment or struggle, in our times of temptation and guilt and brokennesss - we can draw encouragement from that first gathering of the disciples - the risen Lord is with us! And with that knowledge there is a quiet joy among us and a deep sense of peace - the risen Lord is with us!

Maybe that is the sign we should begin to think of putting outside these doors. A sign that reads: "We are a Catholic community who will never give in to cynicism or fear or grief or guilt or despair because we are a community who truly believes in the presence of the risen Christ." Or, more briefly, maybe our sign should merely read, "Looking for Christ Risen - Come in Here."