Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought Of The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 27.04.2006 (Article Archived on 11.05.2006)

This week, in the Gospel, we hear the story about Thomas, the disciple who doubted the others who claimed to have been visited by the risen Lord.

This week, in the Gospel, we hear the story about Thomas, the disciple who doubted the others who claimed to have been visited by the risen Lord.  He told them flat out…”Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe”.  He didn’t believe until he himself was blessed by being with the disciples eight days later when Christ appeared again.

            This is where the phrase “Doubting Thomas” came from.  This is a person who is skeptical of the truth; who doubts whatever he hears; who refuses to believe until he has seen something for himself.  We all know people like this, in fact, there have probably been times in our lives when we ourselves have refused to believe something without concrete proof.  In our society, it is almost the norm.  We live in an age of science and technology, where everything “real” can be proven by a mathematical equation, or seen on film.  That which we often only hear about often proves to not be true. 

            Then there are the people who believe everything they hear, especially when it is a juicy tidbit of gossip, and many who relish the retelling of the story.  With each new account, it tends to grow and change, and it usually undergoes a metamorphosis into something that doesn’t really resemble the actual fact.  This can be dangerous, and cause trouble for the person being talked about.  It can also be hurtful and cause emotional pain

            So where is the middle road?  When do we know to believe something and when should we doubt it?  In the gospel today, Thomas is taken to task by Jesus for not believing the other disciples.  Imagine Thomas’s chagrin when he realized the stories were true.  He must have felt terrible that he had doubted their word.  For there was Jesus, standing before him, telling him to check his wounds, so that he would know Him.  The Lord tells Thomas “You believe because can see me.  Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe”.

When faced with the question of when to believe and when to doubt, a few basic tenets apply.  Does what we are asked to believe relate to our faith?  Does it fall into place with what we have learned throughout our lives about the wonders that God can bring about?  These are the truths that we are sometimes asked to believe without that concrete proof that we in modern times expect, and even demand.  Would it have been easier to believe in ancient times, before the advent of technology and scientific advancement?  Were people more receptive then to the unexpected?  Probably so.

            But we live in “modern” times.  We are inclined to be more like Thomas, and say: “show me the proof”.  Maybe this recounting of the time immediately after Jesus’ resurrection is a reminder that sometimes we just need to take a step back, and put our faith and trust in the Lord.  We have celebrated a new Easter, a time of miracles, so are we ready to recognize the miracles in our own life?

            This brings us to the point of whether we have, in fact, seen the proof in our very own lives.  Most of us can tell of times in our lives when we have felt the presence of God.  We have felt His hand at work when we’ve needed Him the most.  He has comforted us in our sorrow, answered our prayers, and been there to guide us through dark times.  All of the faithful each have a story or two of His blessing in our own life.

            So why would we doubt?  Why would we ever wonder if He is there for us? Why would we dispute what others who live by His word tell us?  This week, as we go about our daily lives in this modern world, with all its advancements and technology, let us remember a simpler time, a time in our own lives when we believed with all our hearts.  And let us find a way to return to that place and time, and without reservation, put our faith in God, and cast away our doubts.