Thomas, Doubt, and Believing

                                      The Incredulity of Thomas -- Caravaggio 1601

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 

Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

John 20: 24-28 NRSVue 

These things did Thomas count as real:

The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
The grain of wood, the heft of stone,
The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.

The vision of his skeptic mind
Was keen enough to make him blind
To any unexpected act
Too large for his small world of fact.

His reasoned certainties denied
That one could live when one had died,
Until his fingers read like Braille
The marking of the spear and nail.009

May we, O God, by grace believe
And thus the risen Christ receive,
Whose raw, imprinted palms reached out

And beckoned Thomas from his doubt

 “These Things Did Thomas Count as Real” by Thomas H. Troeger (1983)

This is the Second Sunday of Easter and the lectionary, the liturgical schedule of scripture readings, offers up the story of Thomas in John's gospel. You may know that Thomas wasn't around when the Resurrected Christ first appeared to the disciples so he understandably chose not to believe he was alive without evidence. A week later Jesus showed up again and as we read Thomas declared his faith. 

I have noted before that during my years in pastoral ministry I appreciated this reading almost as much as the beginning of Chapter 20 which is about the discovery of the empty tomb. Preaching about it required me to address my own reservations and doubts as a Christian. I knew as well that many in the much smaller congregation on this Sunday had their doubts as well because they told me so. Lots of others had chosen to vote permanently with their feet, even those who had been enthusiastic in their faith. 

                                                             Doubting Thomas -- Rembrandt

There are lots of reasonable reasons to doubt including the reality of suffering in our world. I saw that close at hand and I got why people had trouble believing in a loving God. It's really important to be honest about this aspect of doubt. 

These days I'm rattled by the wickedness of religious people, particularly the faux Christians  who claim to follow Jesus and yet are filled with hatred. They despise believers who don't align with their beliefs and chose cruelty over love. It's as though the teachings of Jesus about compassion and care for the stranger don't exist for them. There are days when I'm profoundly discouraged and at times angry. If I'm honest I am embarrassed as well. I don't want to be part of the same species, let alone the same faith  How can so many Christians have become bloodthirsty warmongers who bow down before a false saviour -- I'm looking at you, Donald. 

Somehow though I can't give up on Jesus as God Incarnate, or the saving love of the Cross, and the power of the Resurrection. I consider myself a moderately intelligent person and I strongly support a scientific worldview (no anti-vaxxer here) and I enjoy a civil exchange of thoughts. 

Somehow Jesus continues to be the One for me and now that I'm into the home stretch of this life I'll likely stay the course, not out of fear but devotion. 

And I suppose I should be extending love to the Christians who espouse such anti-Christian views. Maybe I'll just put this on my "to do" list. 

I like this description of Caravaggio's painting and I apologize for not giving credit to the writer -- I couldn't find her/his/their name. 

Doubt, Curiosity, and the Ethics of Looking

The painting offers a generous view of doubt. Thomas is not shamed; he is educated. Christ guides his hand rather than withdrawing. The companions do not judge; they learn by watching closely. Caravaggio thereby advocates an ethics of looking where skepticism is not the enemy of faith but its path. The hand that tests becomes the hand that will bless and the hand that will be martyred; the eyes that peer will someday preach. In a culture often tempted to humiliate hesitation, the image dignifies honest inquiry.

                                     Doubting Thomas -- Michael Smither Mural