Doubt No Longer

From the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters, cp

Sunday, 8th April 2018

Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, as we know, is at the heart of Christian faith. Yet we often struggle with doubts, don’t we?  Even though, according to St. Paul, without the resurrection of Jesus, everything else collapses.  St. Paul knew it wasn’t easy to believe. That’s why he said, “If Christ be not raised, we are of all people most to be pitied! “ He glimpsed the dread possibility!

I know you meet people who say they never had a doubt in their lives and that is certainly a great gift of God. But it can also be that some are afraid to allow themselves to doubt even for a moment.  And may blame those who have doubts! But doubt is not the opposite of faith. It’s part of it. Theologian, Paul Tournier, goes further when he says, “Where there is no opportunity for doubt, there is no opportunity for faith either.” And the Jesuit, Fr. Gerry Hughes, wrote, “Those who rest in unshakeable certainties no longer live in faith, although they often pride themselves as being the only people who have faith.”

It’s because of all this that Thomas, doubting Thomas, gets a starring role and more talking parts in John’s gospel than in the other gospels.  And that’s because John also knew that believing in the bodily resurrection of Jesus was always going to be difficult for believers. It was difficult even for those who saw him after the resurrection. So no wonder it’s difficult for us. Thomas, needless to say, wasn’t the only one who doubted. He was just more honest and blunt about it: “Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side I refuse to believe.”

Part of his problem, of course, was that he ‘wasn’t with the others when Jesus came.’  He was elsewhere, drowning his sorrows alone. He felt let down by all that had happened. The great hopes they had, all dashed! But most of them stayed together. They gathered with Mary and supported one another in their grief. We, today, still need that same faith support. We need to gather together at least once a week to remember Jesus and his word.

The next time Jesus appears among them, Thomas is there. And Jesus takes him so gently. He doesn’t scold him or blame him for his lack of faith. He knows they’ve never experienced anything like this before, so he quietly says, “Thomas, give me your hand; examine my hands and feet; examine my side too. Doubt no longer but believe.”

Jesus is saying the same to us today, “Give me your hand, I will walk the way with you, I know it’s not easy for you. No life is easy. But I will be with you every step of the way.  I know you want to be able to understand all this. But you can’t.  It’s impossible. It’s too much for any human mind. Neither can you live a life of faith without me. But don’t be afraid. I will be with you. Blessed are you who cannot see and yet believe.”

It was said of the first believers that their joy was so great they couldn’t believe it! We can be like that. We won’t let ourselves believe in case we’re let down. We hold back!  Don’t hope for much and you won’t be disappointed! That kind of thing!  I’ve had to take myself in hand many times through life and almost shout at myself, “For God’s sake and your own, stop thinking that reading, study and analysing will answer all your questions. Why can’t you just trust Jesus? Jesus can’t deceive us; Jesus won’t deceive us! Help me to pray with Peter: 

                                      “Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief.”