THE DOUBTING THOMAS

 

Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31

Today is the second Sunday of Easter and it is also known as the Divine Mercy Sunday. The Gospel reading of this Sunday tells the story of Thomas, one of the disciples who struggled to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared severally to his disciples. On the day that he appeared to the eleven, Thomas was not with the other disciples, and when they told him what had happened, he refused to believe unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes and put his hands in the wounds that the nails had made in his hand (John 20:19-31).

The inability of Thomas to believe the story of the other disciples about the appearance of the Risen Christ has made us put Thomas in a box. Any time that his name is mentioned, what comes to our mind is the doubter- the unbelieving disciple; the disciple that is difficult to convince. Some even call him the empiricist. He was the first ever-known empiricist. Empiricists believe that reality exists as long as it can be felt by the senses. According to those who belong to this school of thought, whatever is not perceivable to the sense does not exist. Thomas belonged to this group because he wanted to see and touch the wounds of Jesus before he could believe that it was truly him.

It is so easy to label Thomas as the doubter but we should know that Thomas was also one of the bravest apostles. After the death of Jesus, the disciples locked themselves in a room in Jerusalem because of the fear of the Jews (John 20:19). They were in that room when Jesus appeared to them in today’s gospel reading. All was there but Thomas. He was outside, not afraid of dying for being a follower of Jesus (John 20:19-31). Also, when Jesus told the disciples that He was heading back to Judea to see Lazarus, the disciples fearfully reminded Him that the Jews there had just tried to stone Him (John 11:8). It was Thomas who spoke up at that time, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (11:16). As such, he is not simply the doubting Thomas; he is also the brave Thomas.

It is easy to criticize Thomas for his doubt, but the truth is that doubt is a natural part of the human experience. We all have moments of uncertainty and fear, when we wonder if God is really there, if our prayers are being heard, or if our faith is strong enough. But as we see in Thomas’s story, doubt can also be a catalyst for deeper belief- his skepticism ultimately led him to a deeper understanding and affirmation of Jesus’ divinity- My Lord and my God! (John 20:28). The story of Doubting Thomas reminds us that doubt and belief are not mutually exclusive, but rather can exist together. It is okay to have doubts and questions about our faith, but we must not let them consume us or prevent us from seeking God. Instead, we can use our doubts as a catalyst for deeper understanding and stronger faith. Thomas’s doubt did not hinder his faith, but rather strengthened it. Our doubts too should lead us to belief, and belief has the capacity to transform our lives.

In our world today, there are many reasons to doubt: the political situation, social injustice, and personal struggles. But even in the midst of our doubts, we can hold onto the hope of the Resurrection and the promise of God’s love, mercy and grace. We can look to the example of Thomas and allow our doubts to lead us to a deeper relationship with God. Let us not be afraid to ask questions or seek understanding, but let us also hold onto the hope and promise of the Resurrection. May our doubts lead us to deeper faith and greater love for God and one another. Amen.