The A, B, Cs of Doubting Thomas

Today, the Sunday after Easter, has been known since medieval times as ‘Low Sunday.’  Whether that is because we begin to come down into a low after the ‘high of Easter, or because attendance and offerings are low I don’t think anyone is sure.  It is also known in the Latin tradition as dominica post albis  because it was the day that those newly baptised who had been continuing to wear white robes for a week now stopped.  In other circles, based on the Lectionary, this has become the day of Good Old Tom or Doubting Thomas.

And that can be problematic because we have heard so much about him one wonders if there is anything else to be said.  Perhaps at best he reminds us that even those present for the resurrection appearances had their doubts.  Nevertheless can he still have anything new to teach about doubt ?  I would suggest that, because our doubts are dynamic, so is the experience of hearing about his story…always something new to learn.  So today, for a few moments, we can look at Thomas as he teaches us his A,B,C’s, not for grammar, but for faith and doubt.

In Thomas’ case, A is for asking.  Now I would ask your indulgence here as there are no question marks in Thomas’ statements, “unless I see…”. Behind it, however, are the questions regarding both who Christ is and the results of his Crucifixion.  So, I choose to call this asking.  The post-resurrection experience is not the first time Thomas asks tough questions or provides a challenging statement.  When Jesus tells the disciples that they know where he is going, Thomas replies with, “we don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?”  (John 14:5-6).  Taking things at their word is not one of Thomas’ strong points.  And even when he is agreeable as Jesus prepares to make his last journey to Jerusalem, he can be pretty miserable – “Let us go with him to die with him” (John 11:16).

But he does have the courage to not simply give in because everyone else says it’s true. Insisting on seeing and touching he is unwilling to settle for just one of his senses (hearing) to be satisfied. 

And that raises the question for us regarding acceptance of what we hear and are told regarding our faith.  Where does what we believe come from?  And if it’s an unexplored hand me down, its lack of strength and durability can make sense.  We have learned the tenets of faith from our brothers and sisters in faith. Have we made it our own and are we willing to ask the questions to do so?  And, if our churches and Christian brothers and sisters are demanding that we all think, believe and act the same is that a true witness to Christ who in his twelve close companions had a variety of beliefs and responses, nurtured by our Saviour.

Back in America we were always told that the only stupid questions are those that are not asked.  While my experience of that phrase living in Europe has not been totally supportive of this idea, it does still have merit.  With no questions we never grow.  Even the incessant questioning that we receive from children offers the opportunity for them to grow and us to relate to what is important in their lives.  Questions or challenges offered out of sincerity and honesty can aid us in our next growth point – B for belief.

“My Lord and my God!”  The challenge has been accepted and the question answered.  Thomas is awestruck. Somehow all that Jesus foretold had come true and, if it was true, salvation from sin and death had arrived. The feeling that something exists or is true has overwhelmingly appeared to Thomas and he can only exclaim these words with the powerful expression of faith moving him forward. 

What are our beliefs and where do they take us?  Sometimes the sheer audacity of what we are believing  can make us hesitant to live it out.  Like the seed being choked by weeds the questions continue to challenge us as we read the paper, hear the news, and listen to our world’s pain, yet wanting to believe so badly.  And yet, despite the assurance with which we, like the awakened Thomas, begin, things begin to weigh us down.  The silent God feels inaccessible, remote and sometimes downright uncaring.  Writing for Father Richard Rohr’s Centre for Action and Contemplation author Debbie Thomas writes that, after looking at all the mass shootings, wars and contagion of, among other things, mental illness, “In the face of all this, I need to know that a better world is not just possible, but assured.  I need to trust that God’s salvation encompasses not only those of us who enjoy fairly comfortable lives here on earth but also those who will not experience the salvific love, vindication, healing and just of God in this life.”  After listing the entire spectrum of God’s humanity who now have access to the salvation won through the resurrection she says, “For all these people…I need to know that, while we have every obligation to alleviate suffering in this world, the salvation of God’s precious children does not, finally, depend on our clumsy efforts…”

Clumsy our efforts might be, but in light of the resurrection belief won through the willingness to believe, they can make a difference for others, for God and for ourselves.  We see through a new lens based not on a ‘pie in the sky by and by,’ lacking foundation, but on the foundation of God’s salvation history.

And so we confess it.  For the C of Thomas’ A,B,Cs of doubt and faith is confession.  Hopefully all of you have found on your seats today a piece of paper with 2 images.  The first is Caravaggio’s ‘Incredulity of St Thomas,’ the second,  the apostle Thomas preaching in India.  Tradition holds that Thomas went to India founding a church there and being buried in Chennai, India.  ‘My Lord and my God’ indeed.  That realisation and worship in the Upper Room motivated him to go, sharing the news and confessing.

When and if we get to the point of belief, what do we do with it?  Thomas went from doubting to difference making.  We are called to the same.  The reason though I use the term confession with empathy is because sometimes people are so excited to share that belief that they can do it insensitively going against the very message they want to convey.  St Francis supposedly said, “Preach Christ always, use words only when necessary.”  How true that is.  Christ gives us lifestyles that share his word.  Stories and confidence say that far more than one word leaving our lips.  Perhaps more than ever, when we listen and support, Christ speaks.

I suspect that responses to everything shared here will be different in 2025.  We will have new issues, new challenges and, yes, probably new doubts  Thomas in many ways ia a dynamic man for all seasons, situations and interpretations.  The movement from asking to believing to confessing dynamically calls us again and again.  And, when the darkness of doubt seeks extinguish the light of these 3 let us remember,”The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.”  “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out and put your hand in my side.  Do not doubt, but believe [!]”