Sunday Reflections

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1) 

Faith is beautiful and comforting and strengthening.  It is also confusing and challenging, and sometimes it seems to be just beyond our grasp.  In today’s gospel Thomas is struggling with his faith.  I know I have in the past imagined that Thomas must have sounded like a petulant child when he responded to the news that the other disciples had seen the Risen Lord.  I pictured him raising an eyebrow and scoffing, saying “Prove it!” 

Today when I reflected on the gospel, however, I feel I may have been too harsh with Thomas.  Just because he questioned this miracle the disciples claimed to have seen doesn’t mean Thomas was without faith.  Although we call him doubting Thomas that is not the whole story.  Thomas wanted to believe.  He kept an open mind, and when Jesus appeared again and showed himself to Thomas he immediately exclaimed “My Lord and my God!”  Notice that the gospel doesn’t say that Thomas actually touched Jesus’ hands or put his hand in Jesus’ side.  The Risen Lord heard Thomas’ (perhaps unspoken) prayer that he wanted to believe, met Thomas where he was, and Thomas in turn accepted the grace Jesus offered and allowed his faith to be restored.

There are many times when I pray that I doubt whether or not my prayer will be heard.  I place a loved one before the Lord, but I don’t always have much hope that my loved one will be healed or receive comfort.  Then there are moments where a miracle happens, even a tiny one, and suffering is relieved, or understanding dawns.  And I feel like Thomas, surprised by faith, slightly ashamed that I doubted, but above all else, overwhelmed by the love of God.

May we always strive for faith, and when it seems impossible, may we keep an open mind as Thomas did, so that we recognize our Risen Lord when he presents his love to us.