Help my unbelief

thought-for-sundayFrom the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters, cp

Sunday, 28th April 2019

  

 

                                       

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!”

I know I mentioned Thomas, ‘doubting’ Thomas last week but there’s so much we can learn from him. That’s why he gets a starring role and more talking parts in John’s gospel than in the other gospels.  And all 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. And, as I said last week, Thomas 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 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’ll be 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 scold 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 pray with the father of the young boy in the gospel (Mark 9:24):

 

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