Sunday Reflections

Perhaps the old saying Seeing is believing comes from the gospel story this weekend, based on the apostle Thomas saying that he will not believe Jesus is risen unless he actually sees him and touches him. The testimony of the other apostles is not enough to convince him.  The truth is, we are in the same position as Thomas: we are asked to believe without seeing.

The faith we have now is totally grounded on the fact that someone told us, either parents, some ministers of faith, something we have read, or the witness of those who have gone before us.  My brother told me that someone had called him a rather unflattering name once.  He told them, “Hey, I couldn’t count the number of people in my life who called me that.  They couldn’t all have been wrong.” When it comes to faith and believing, and we look at the almost two thousand years of people who put their faith in the Risen Jesus by their service and the practice of their lives, or even ultimately by dying because of their belief, perhaps we can ask the same question: Can two thousand years of witnesses have all been wrong?

So, someone told someone, who told someone else, and they in turn told someone, and on and on it went until finally, someone told us. And having heard, we are called to believe or not believe. But we know that it is not like we can go to sleep and wake up in the morning as believers in Jesus. We need to open ourselves to faith because God respects our freedom and will not force anything on us. So, if we want to nurture our faith, the first reading gives us an action plan. We are called to study scripture, gather with the community in the breaking of bread, and share our lives and resources with those in need. There you go: we have no excuse for not believing, we have the GPS. This path will help us to see — not with physical sight — but with the eyes of faith.

If we can do this and commit ourselves to the journey of faith, we too will be gifted with the peace that Jesus offers. As the letter to Peter tells us, the way will not always be easy, but the reward will be great. “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”