There are only a few dates on the liturgical calendar that call for the same scripture year after year, including the Second Sunday of Easter. Every year, just one week after celebrating Jesus' resurrection, the gospel reading reminds us of Thomas' struggle to believe. You know the story (John 20:19-31), unless your annual tradition is to always miss the Sunday after the Resurrection.
The church must be on to something, and on to us. For all the joy of Easter morning-trumpets and tympani, triumphant hymns, full worship spaces with smiling people celebrating an empty tomb and God's power over death-we still have our doubts. Seven days later, with the world's struggles continuing, with our own daily lives resuming, we wonder about this resurrection business. Where are the holes in risen Jesus' hands and side for us to touch?
The church must be on to something, and on to us. For all the joy of Easter morning-trumpets and tympani, triumphant hymns, full worship spaces with smiling people celebrating an empty tomb and God's power over death-we still have our doubts. Seven days later, with the world's struggles continuing, with our own daily lives resuming, we wonder about this resurrection business. Where are the holes in risen Jesus' hands and side for us to touch?
As I read John's account of Thomas' doubts in light of the entire chapter, I start to realize there are a variety of ways people come to believe and that doubt is part of that. It turns out that the key to believing in Jesus is having a relationship with him and, as with any relationship, it's not a static thing. One week, we may not concern ourselves at all with any "proof" and the next we may be desperate for it. Our hope is that Jesus is patient with us through it all and that, in the end, we will have come to believe, even as Jesus will have helped us in our unbelief.