Second Sunday of Easter: Doubting Thomas

Consider the scene in today’s Gospel: it was Easter Sunday. The disciples still had no idea that Jesus was alive. Still overwhelmed with how everything had come crashing down upon them, they were desperately holed-up—overwhelmed with sadness, painful regret, utter shock and fear.

In the midst of that weight, Jesus suddenly appeared saying, “Peace be with you”, showing them his wounds. There must have been a moment of dumbfounding disbelief, before realization set in. Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you” and breathed on them the peace of the Spirit, replacing the stale air of that room. I imagine it as a gentle and cool breeze moving through, with the scent of fresh Easter lilies.

Then our reading moves from that buoyant moment, back to the weight of doubt. Thomas, a first-hand witness to Jesus for three years, needed proof if he was to believe. Really? I read about a proposed experiment which I’ll describe. Imagine you’re blindfolded and a cardboard box is placed at your feet. Your task is to determine whether the box is either empty or has within it....say, an Easter rabbit. There are three distinct ways to find out.

First, you could bend down and stick your hand into the box and feel around for the rabbit—that is, knowledge gained by use of senses.

·         Second, you could pick up the box and judge by its weight, perhaps by slightly shaking the box, to feel movement—that is, knowledge gained by deduction or reasoning.

·         Third, you could ask a person nearby to tell if there’s a rabbit in the box—that is, gaining knowledge by believing the testimony of another person.[1]

Studies show that more than 75% of our knowledge is obtained by accepting the word of others. For example, how often do you read the nutritional values of food and yet I presume you never feel compelled to verify it. I’ve never been to either the north or south pole, though I’m told both exist. I accept this proposal and feel no need to personally verify.

          As people of the information age, we pride ourselves on being well informed, yet the reality is that most of what we hear we take on faith. The fact that 75% of what we know comes by virtue of the testimony of another doesn’t faze us, yet we tend to shrink with embarrassment when someone suggests that our faith is based on myths and superstition.[2]

Some of you will recall the book, later made into a movie, called A Case For Christ. It’s a true story of a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, a staunch atheist, who attempted to formally debunk the Resurrection accounts, using the wide variety of historical resources that exist—bearing in mind as St. Paul himself said, if the Resurrection wasn’t true, everything else we hold about Jesus falls apart (1 Cor 15:14).

As a reporter who had investigated criminal cases, he utilized forensic methods. When he was unable to find the debunking proof he sought—and instead found evidence in support the Resurrection—he turned to his mentor, a fellow-atheist, seeking guidance to help advance his pursuit. His mentor’s response troubled him: “Even for us who don’t believe, we’re doing so based on faith”.

So then, why do people choose not to believe?

·         For some, it’s an honest struggle. Maybe it’s the problem of evil in our world, or a need for some sort of concrete evidence that has yet to present itself.

·         But for too many, they make excuses, such as blaming religious people and religious institutions for inciting wars or creating division among people; declaring religion as a means of controlling people, and giving power to a select few. To be clear, all those human tendencies would occur with or without religion. But furthermore, I would point out that our Christian faith opposes all those things: war, division, oppression of populations.

·         Others choose not to believe because frankly they are either spiritually or intellectually lazy.

·         Others don’t because they prefer to fall in line with what they regard as the most pervasive voice in society—simply put, they’re sycophants.

·         Then there are those who choose not to believe, so that they can define a structure of beliefs and morality of their own making.

Personal reasons to not believe are numerous.

For us of faith, I remind us that faith is not only a gift God gave to us all, but it’s also like a muscle: it must be utilized, otherwise it will remain undeveloped—like too many Christians who have a second-grade understanding of faith, never having advanced beyond First Holy Communion preparation. Just as relationships suffer when we don’t put energy into them, so does faith that is unengaged.

As you’ve heard me say before, there are five principle things that if we put energy and intention into them, they will nurture faith and help us have not seen to believe. They are:

·         Prayer—talking to God each day about what’s going on in your life: your causes for gratitude, and how you need help;

·         Learning—5-10 minutes of daily learning about the faith; [Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love by Trent Horn ($4.99, 135 pages, electronic or audiobook)]

·         Sacraments—living in their grace: Eucharist and Confession;

·         Support—have at least one person who’s a regular part of your life, who helps you to be a better Christian; and finally,

·         Loving Service—try to live like Jesus lived, in the ways you can.

While it’s important to know the arguments for our faith, it’s even more important to be alive in it. There is plenty of historical evidence to substantiate that God raised Jesus from the dead, but for many a Doubting Thomas, you are to be the proof, the article of faith they seek.

[1] Mark Link, S.J., Illustrated Sunday Homilies

[2] Edward Dowling, S.J., Have You Heard The Good News