2nd Sunday of Easter
Cycle B
April 8, 2018 8:00 and 9:30am Masses
Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville
Doubting Thomas?
In recent years, I have begun to dislike the expression doubting Thomas.
I and many of us 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 sees and touches Jesus.
But then, Thomas ends up making one of the most beautiful
professions of faith. 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 begun to dislike the expression doubting Thomas.
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, I think that Thomas stands as a good example
for all those who are seeking to
understand more about God.
Our Seeking
Today some authors, including some Catholic authors, tell
us that many people experience this seeking
in their faith.
They say that this seeking
should really be seen not as a lack of faith, but as a stage or a dimension of
faith. I agree with that, and from my own experience in ministry, I see persons
of faith seeking or questioning in various
ways.
For example, some who are seeking question certain sections of the Bible. They ask: how can
the image of a militant and vengeful God in parts of the Old Testament
harmonize with the picture of a merciful and forgiving God that Jesus presents?
Or, some who are seeking
question the designation of God only as Father.
They ask: isn’t God the source and creator of both genders and doesn’t
that say something about the identity of God?
And again, some who are seeking
question why our Church or any Church or religion would say that those who are
not part of their community will not be saved. They ask: didn’t Jesus bring
salvation to all people and isn’t the mystery of heaven and of God’s love
bigger than anything we can grasp or imagine?
I have listened to those seeking and have heard these and other questions. I bet many of you
have too.
So, 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.
Being part of a church can really help us.
Jesus knew that we need a community for our journey of
faith. He intended the Church to support and guide us positively in our journey,
especially when we are seeking.
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 Mary’s Parish, we also
need to be engaging. This means that we need to be welcoming and including and
respecting of 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 and to be able to profess
those wonderful words about Jesus: “My
Lord and my God.”
