Faith and Doubt

On this Sunday as we turn from the joy and excitement of Easter Day, we find ourselves down with the doubters, with Thomas, who cannot comprehend the resurrection.  This common-sense disciple who refused to believe that Jesus had risen is often contemptuously called ‘doubting Thomas’, yet we can probably all identify with his doubts and his questions. On this low Sunday we find once again, that joy and hope, doubt and questions all sit along the spectrum of faith.

For some reason, Thomas had not been with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection.   When they told him the story that Jesus himself had stood among them, he asked for what seems like some sensible proof.  After all he was simply trying to stop his ordered, rational world crashing around him. We too fear reality crashing around us, we too, have to try to make sense of things we see and hear at times – things as horrific as the Christchurch shootings, or this week’s bombings in Columbo, all in the name of ‘religion.’

Thomas is the saint for all of us today who have times of questioning, times of doubting and times of wondering about our faith.   Yet, the most important thing to remember today, is that this is not lack of faith. Doubting and questioning are part of faith.

When Jesus comes back to that Upper Room, he comes specifically to Thomas to answer his questions.  The scene is tender.  There are no recriminations and no accusations, just gentle reassurance, until Thomas falls to his knees, and in a final great affirmation of faith says ‘My Lord and my God.’   To those who come after, to us, John’s Jesus offers a final beatitude. ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’

In peace, Mother Lynda

Gospel Reading:  John 20:19-31