Today we hear the Gospel story of “doubting Thomas.” We look at Thomas and wonder why he couldn’t believe the testimony of the other disciples. Poo Thomas just needed some proof to get him to believe. He had been through so much in the last week, He had watched one that he hoped was the Messiah get arrest, beaten and killed. He had watched this Jesus who he had put his hope in crucified right in front of him. He knew that he and the other disciples could also be facing the same fate as followers of this rebel. So here he was on that Sunday with all kinds of confusion, fear and grief and he’s asked to believe this amazing story. He knew Jesus had been put to death, was buried in the tomb with a huge rock rolled in front. He had seen it with his own eyes. That should have been the end of the story of Jesus. That would make sense but now they’re asking him to believe that the Jesus who died right in front of him was visiting as if all was well.
We are all like Thomas in some way. We want proof. We want assurance that what we believe is right. We are called to believe in life when death is staring us in the face. We are called to live with hope in humanity when all we see is violence. We are called to believe that new life can come even when the problems of our lives bring us to our knees. It’s hard to believe some days. It would be nice to have proof that Christ is right there in our midst but then we wouldn’t need faith. Paul reminds us that “Faith is hope in things unseen.” We know there’s more to this picture than our human eyes have seen. We have experienced the awesome moments when Christ breaks into our lives to bring healing, comfort or new joy. Faith reminds us there is Holy Mystery in our lives. We can’t control it or prove it but we have experienced it. Christ is Risen and appears to us in mysterious ways: in the laughter of our children, in a beautiful sunset, in the compassion of a friend, at a meal with those we love, in the reconciliation of broken relationships, in the simple joy of being alive. Yes, it’s in those moments when we know that Christ is truly risen our faith is confirmed.
As I get older, I feel less a need to understand it all. I don’t have to explain it and often can’t even make sense as to why things happen in life as they do. I’m OK to live in the mystery and allow God to be God. Faith never said that we would have all the answers, it only gives us the strength to believe in a God who has created us and redeemed us out of the most extravagant love.
The one thing I know deep in my soul is that my Redeemer lives and he makes all things new! That’s enough for me.
We are all like Thomas in some way. We want proof. We want assurance that what we believe is right. We are called to believe in life when death is staring us in the face. We are called to live with hope in humanity when all we see is violence. We are called to believe that new life can come even when the problems of our lives bring us to our knees. It’s hard to believe some days. It would be nice to have proof that Christ is right there in our midst but then we wouldn’t need faith. Paul reminds us that “Faith is hope in things unseen.” We know there’s more to this picture than our human eyes have seen. We have experienced the awesome moments when Christ breaks into our lives to bring healing, comfort or new joy. Faith reminds us there is Holy Mystery in our lives. We can’t control it or prove it but we have experienced it. Christ is Risen and appears to us in mysterious ways: in the laughter of our children, in a beautiful sunset, in the compassion of a friend, at a meal with those we love, in the reconciliation of broken relationships, in the simple joy of being alive. Yes, it’s in those moments when we know that Christ is truly risen our faith is confirmed.
As I get older, I feel less a need to understand it all. I don’t have to explain it and often can’t even make sense as to why things happen in life as they do. I’m OK to live in the mystery and allow God to be God. Faith never said that we would have all the answers, it only gives us the strength to believe in a God who has created us and redeemed us out of the most extravagant love.
The one thing I know deep in my soul is that my Redeemer lives and he makes all things new! That’s enough for me.