The Gospel of John, chapter 20:28

The scholastics of the middle ages recognized the role of doubt in the development of theology, which is the union of faith and reason. They were not afraid of doubt, and they knew that doubt could only lead to a deepening of their faith.

Today’s Gospel story of “doubting” Thomas contains one of the greatest professions of faith found anywhere in the new testament. Thomas’ “My Lord and my God” was no simple confession; it was a great shout of faith.

We are reminded that real faith means experiencing Christ as Lord and Savior. For Thomas, the risen Lord had to be the crucified Lord. He had to probe the nail-prints in Jesus’ hands; put his finger, “in the nail marks” and his hand “into his side.” Thomas wanted to see Jesus’ wounds, so that he would know whether this specter who had appeared to his friends was really Jesus.

Recall that when the disciples feared that Jesus’ returning to Judea would lead to his death, it was Thomas who said, “let us go along to die with him”. (John 11 –16). He was the man of faith seeking greater faith. Faith takes effort and resolve. Faith is what drives a lifestyle. Like Thomas, we want to make sure we are heading in the right direction. Now and then we stumble and hesitate. We doubt, but we needn’t abandon the faith. It is our faith that helps us survive the slings and arrows of misfortune. It is our faith in Jesus that helps us rise again to new life.

When we say, “I believe,” we are taking a stand. We are making a declaration of dependence on God. But making this decision is never easy. The journey of faith is a quest well worth the effort to undertake, “do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” says Jesus. Few can accept this crisp command but those who do accept it are embarking on a great adventure. They are delving into the adventure called Christ who comes to help them understand why they are here, That’s a God worth believing in! That a God worth the great shout of faith: “My Lord and my God!”

The doubt that St. Thomas felt, after the crucifiction and the apparent failure of Christ to deliver His message of hope to an expectant world, was natural. It was human, and Jesus paid special attention to Thomas’ doubt by renewing Thomas’ faith in Him again.

Today’s message is a lesson for all of us. It is natural to doubt. But, doubt need not lead to the loss of faith. Rather, it can lead to a deepening of our faith; it can make us more understanding of our own faults, and the faults of others; it can make us grateful for such a great gift.

“My Lord and my God!”

Fr. Hugh Duffy