Poor Thomas. He wanted a rock-solid confirmation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He wanted to feel the side of Jesus that had been pierced with a lance, and to touch the hands that had been nailed to the cross.
If there had been a webcam in the tomb which had captured the moment of the Resurrection, would we believe in
Jesus then? If we had watched him get up and move the stone from the entrance of the tomb on Facebook Live, would we be believers?
To be honest, we would probably still be sceptical. “Oh, that’s great CGI!” we might remark. What would it take for us to be true believers?
For all his doubting, the confession that Thomas makes is the strongest confession of all the
disciples. He gives testimony to the fact that Jesus is Lord and God, the God of his life.
Doubt doesn’t have to be an obstacle to faith, but it could be its catalyst. A naïve belief is still a belief, but a belief tempered by life's struggles is something a little stronger. It is a belief that has looked at death and suffering and proclaimed that Christ is Lord of all that.
In what areas of your life do you need the Light of Christ to shine?
Reflections by Grant Tungay SJ
