CLEARING OF DOUBTS: THE RISEN LORD MEETS THE DOUBTING THOMAS
First Reading: Acts 5: 12 to 16
Second Reading: Apocalypse 1: 9 to 13 and 17 to 19
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19 to 31
Introduction: To believe that someone is risen from the dead is unimaginable. Thomas faced the same problem. Like doubting Thomas, we all experience moments of doubts and uncertainty in our lives. By hiding our doubts or running away from them, we are not able to clear them. But as Thomas did, we all need to clarify our doubts and experience the life-giving presence of the risen Lord. Then we too will be able to profess our faith: "My Lord and my God."
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Various miracles worked by St. Peter and other Apostles through the power of the risen Lord are narrated. Many people experience the presence of the risen Lord in a very powerful and convincing way through the ministry of the Apostles. As a result, a large number of people are added to the community of believers and the early Church grows in numbers.
*Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. The risen Lord encourages Apostle John in a vision. He reveals Himself as the Alpha and the Omega: The beginning and the end of everything. He is the one who lives forever. John is instructed to write encouraging and inspiring letters to the seven Churches so that the members will be enlightened and strengthened in their faith.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The risen Lord appears to all the eleven disciples when they are together in a closed room. In His first appearance, Thomas was not present and He expresses his unhappiness and unbelief. On the second occasion, when Thomas is present as Lord Jesus appears before them, Jesus asks Thomas to insert his finger into His wounds. Thus the risen Lord gently and lovingly guides the unbelieving Thomas to faith and convinces him that He is indeed risen from the dead. Thomas readily admits his lack of faith and emphatically makes an act of faith in the Lord Jesus. The risen Lord commends all future believers by uttering: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." All of us have doubts and fears, especially about life after death. We could learn from the example of Thomas. What a refreshing honesty he has! He does not pretend that everything is just okay. Through his questioning and unbelieving attitude, Thomas becomes a key link between the age of the Apostles who saw the risen Lord with their own eyes and all those future disciples who will never see Him physically and yet believe in Him. The risen Lord invites us too to draw close to Him in faith and to look at the same wounds of His, which Thomas the Apostle saw with his physical eyes. The risen Lord helps us to make contact with Him and with one another. By experiencing His loving and reassuring 'touch' , He sends us forth to 'touch' others who do not yet believe in Him. People can come to faith in the risen Lord only when they can 'see' Him and 'touch' Him in His followers. We have to ask the Lord to give us the gift of being able to 'touch' people in such a manner that like Him, we can bring faith, hope and life eternal to them. Doubts can lead us to deeper faith and conviction. In this context, Lord Tennyson says: "There lies more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds." P. Abelard says: "It is by doubting that we come to investigate and by investigating that we recognize the truth." May the risen Lord, who appeared to St. Thomas and cleared his doubts and unbelief, bless you, strengthen you and help you to overcome all your doubts and unbelief and lead you to totally trust in the Lord. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, April 27, 2025." Thanks.)
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