John, Chapter 20

 A little boy entered a neighborhood grocery store and asked for a box of tide. The grocer patted him on the head and praised him for getting ready to do the family laundry.
The boy says: That’s not what I want to do. I have a little puppy and I want to wash it.”
The grocer replies: “that’s a mighty strong detergent to wash a puppy with.”
The boy answers: “I saw on T.V. that tide makes things clean and fluffy.”
Finally, the grocer acquiesces and tells the boy to be careful how he uses the tide.
A few days later, the boy returns to the store, downcast.
“How’s your little puppy?” asks the grocer.
“I buried him last night,” replies the boy,
“I warned you about the detergent,” says the grocer, sternly.
To which the boy responds: “it wasn’t the tide that got him. It was the rince cycle.”

At times we feel that life has put us through the rince cycle. This is how St. Thomas felt after the crucifiction of Jesus. His life had fallen apart and, even though he heard stories about the Lord’s resurrection, his mind was wracked with doubt. He wanted to experience the risen Lord, to put his hand into his side, before committing himself to this new found faith in the resurrection.

When Thomas saw that the risen Lord was really worth believing in, he exclaimed: “My Lord and My God.” This exclamation of Thomas is one of the greatest professions of faith in the gospels.

It has been said that those who begin with certitudes end with doubt, and those who begin with doubt end with certitude. Thomas began with doubt about the resurrection of Jesus and ended with certitude, a certitude that burst forth into his shout of faith: “My Lord and My God.”
We have not seen with our eyes the risen Lord that Thomas touched with his hands. We are among those who have not seen but believe. We believe, in spite of doubt, because we can experience the risen Lord in our own lives and in the lives of those who strive to follow his example.

When we say, “I believe,” we are taking a stand. We are embarking on a journey, a journey of faith that is well worth the effort. “Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe,” says the Lord.
Few can accept this crisp command but to those who can accept, it is eye-opening. It is worthy of the shout of faith:
“My Lord and My God”

Fr. Hugh Duffy