They were locked in for safety’s sake.  After all their Lord and master had just been executed and they feared that they were going to be next.  So in fear they went back to the upper room where they had shared a wonderful meal with the teacher and they locked the door tight, shut up the windows and made sure that no one could get in.  At least that was their hope. 

How many times do we lock ourselves in because of fear?  We don’t want to talk with anyone so we close the door and when the phone rings we let it go to voicemail.  Guess what?  It’s common to have those fearful feelings.  We all have some form of them or another.  It’s because we are sinners that we get that way.  Sin is a real fear factor. 

When you have betrayed a friend in some fashion you really don’t feel like answering their calls.  When you have dishonored your father and mother by not abiding by their guidelines for you, you just want to go in your room and lock the door. (I want to take the locks off my kid’s doors sometimes).  When you have been unfaithful to your spouse or when you have hated your brother or sister in your heart you really don’t feel like sitting down to a nice long heart to heart.  You just want to lock the door and get away.  We even try to do the same with God.  When we have feared, loved or trusted in something or someone other than Father, Son and Holy Spirit we try locking the door of our hearts in the hope that God won’t find out or in the fear that he will find out and we want to protect ourselves from his chastisement.

But do I have good news for you!  The Gospel reading from John (20:19-31) on the second Sunday of Easter shows how Jesus can handle locked doors.  He enters right in and brings with him peace!  He drives away the fear with his peace.  He breathes into you the breath of life.  His life!  His life means forgiveness, it means peace with God, it means eternal life.  So much for our locked doors!