2nd Sunday of Easter
Cycle A
April 23, 2017 8:45 and 11:00am Masses
Saint Matthew Parish, Baltimore
Doubting
Thomas?
I have grown to really dislike the expression doubting Thomas.
I and probably at least some of you have heard this
expression and maybe even used it. We
might call others a doubting Thomas
if they refuse to believe something.
Obviously, this expression is based on the gospel story that
we just heard. Thomas refuses to believe
unless he himself sees and touches Jesus.
But then, Thomas ends up making one of the most beautiful
professions of faith in all of Scripture.
He calls Jesus “My Lord and my
God.”
Still, our tradition has dubbed him doubting Thomas. We have
kind of looked down upon him and his faith as less than the other disciples.
Seeking Thomas
Well, as I said, I have grown uncomfortable with calling
Thomas doubting.
I think it would be much better to refer to him as seeking Thomas. Thomas isn’t closed to believing in the risen
Christ.
In fact, he wants to believe and he is seeking faith or else he would not be with the disciples on that
Sunday after the resurrection. So Thomas
stands as a good example for all those who are seeking to understand more about God.
Our Seeking
Today some scholars of religion tell us that many people
experience this seeking in their
faith.
These scholars tell us that this seeking should really be seen not as a lack of faith, but as a
stage or a dimension of faith. As I see
it today, persons of faith might be seeking
or questioning in a number of ways.
For example, some who are seeking might question certain sections of the Scripture. How can the image of a militant and vengeful
God in parts of the Old Testament harmonize with the picture of God that Jesus
presents?
Or, some who are seeking
might question the designation of God only as Father. After all, isn’t God the source and creator
of both genders and doesn’t that tell us something about the identity of God?
Or, some who are seeking might question why the Church prohibits
Catholics who are married outside the Church from receiving Communion. Why are they prohibited from receiving
Communion when those who express racial prejudice or insensitivity for the poor
are not prohibited?
I have listened to those seeking and have heard these questions. I bet you have too.
I suggest that it is better not to look upon those are seeking as in some way less or to call
them doubting Thomases. Rather, it is better to see this seeking as a stage or dimension of faith
that some of us experience.
Conclusion
I want to conclude with two reflections that are really
like two sides of one coin.
First, it is important for any of us who are seeking to stick with a community of
faith. It is valuable to be part of a
community or church.
This must be why Jesus intended that his followers identify
together as a community. It must be why
he formed what we call the Church.
Jesus knew that we need this community for our journey of
faith. He intended the Church to support
and guide us positively in our journey.
And my second reflection is really the other side of the
coin. We as a Church need to take the
approach of Jesus in today’s gospel.
Jesus engages Thomas and he does this right in the
community of the disciples. The result
is that Thomas gets satisfaction to his seeking
and he believes.
Well, we, as a Church or as Saint Matthew’s Parish, we also
need to be engaging. This means that we
need to be welcoming and including and respecting, and not putting down or excluding
those who are seeking.
This is the way that we as Church can provide a safe and nourishing,
spiritual space. It is the best way that
we can empower everyone and especially those who are seeking to come to a satisfying faith, much as Jesus does for seeking Thomas.
