Please join me in the prayer printed on page ___ of your bulletin after the word “SERMON”. Let us pray.
Increase our faith, O Lord. Give us diligence to learn and understand the Gospel. Open our hearts to trust in you. Let our doubts spur us to seek greater understanding with patience. For you have given us minds to question and time to grow and mature. And you call us to know, to love, and to serve you even in the midst of uncertainty. Amen.
Thomas is one of my favorite apostles. We don’t know a lot about him from the Bible, but the Gospel of John gives us some interesting glimpses. What I love is that he spoke to Jesus openly from his heart, whether his heart was filled with fear or doubt or faith. We also don’t know a lot about Thomas from early church history. Just enough to assert that he spread the Gospel throughout what is now Syria and Iran, perhaps even India. Some scholars believe it was Syrian disciples of Thomas who went to India. But among the 27 million modern-day Indian Christians, Thomas is credited with establishing India’s first church. They say that Thomas came to India about 20 years after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection—and died in India for his faith.
Thomas is a great example of an honest, courageous, faithful follower of Christ. So, it doesn’t sit well with me when people refer to him as “Doubting Thomas.” Especially when that nickname is spoken in a way that implies, “Shame on you, Thomas, for doubting!”
To clarify, I DO think that Thomas doubted. In today’s Gospel lesson, he is very uncertain about whether Jesus is risen from the dead. Of course, he is! Jesus’ death was very public. Thomas is convinced that Jesus died on Friday. Why believe that Jesus is alive on Sunday just because some of the other followers say so? Maybe they’re mistaken. Maybe they’re indulging in wishful thinking. Maybe they’re the forerunners of those few who believe in multiple sightings of Elvis Presley since August 1997. So, yes, Thomas doubts. Makes sense to me.
But why single Thomas out as the one who doubts? He is not the only disciple who doubts. In fact, it seems like all the disciples doubt Jesus’ repeated proclamation that he would die and three days later rise from the dead. His death makes no sense to them, and resurrection makes even less sense. Throughout the events of what we now call Holy Week, Easter Sunday, and the first few weeks of the Easter Season, the disciples exhibit many signs of doubt such as fear, betrayal, and denial. Some might say the women don’t doubt. Out of love and loyalty, they stay with Jesus during his crucifixion and follow when he is laid in the tomb on Friday. But even the women come back to the tomb on Sunday prepared to find his dead body, not their risen Lord. And even the disciples who see the risen Jesus on Easter Sunday are still hiding fearfully behind closed doors the next Sunday.
So, instead of shaking our fingers at “Doubting Thomas,” let’s give thanks for God’s patience and grace. Because God doesn’t give up on any of these doubters. When Jesus sees Thomas, he doesn’t scold. He meets Thomas where he is with what he needs. And Jesus does the same for the other disciples.
Let’s also give thanks that all four of the Gospels clearly show the doubt of the disciples. That’s convincing. That’s one reason this Doubting Deacon keeps coming back to belief in the resurrection of Christ. The Gospels are honest that resurrection is so powerful, so beyond our experience that it is not easy to believe. Yet, those disciples who are finally convinced become filled with new life and with the power of Christ’s resurrection. And they take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And here’s what is truly amazing: I keep seeing glimpses of that same new life and resurrection power in my life and in the lives of others around me.
Looking at the journey of all the disciples, we can conclude that doubt is not what some seem to think. Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Doubt is part of the journey of faith. Which brings us back to that prayer printed on page ___ of your bulletin.
Earlier this year, I happened upon this prayer in Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book. It’s headed “For Faith.” I immediately made it a consistent part of my prayer practice. It seems to be exactly what I need to be talking to God about these days.
Through the years, I’ve often had questions and doubts about spiritual and religious matters. Sometimes my doubts seem overwhelming, usually because of suffering. Not so much my suffering. Not all suffering. Some suffering, while very hard, seems bearable because of the love that surrounds the sufferer. Some suffering seems to serve a good purpose. But I’ve known people who have been crushed by their suffering. Last year it seemed like there were just too many crushed people in the world to leave room for a loving God. I’m thankful that God reached out through a superb therapist and other supportive people to allow me time to grow. I still have questions and doubts, but they no longer seem overwhelming.
This prayer “For Faith” helps me focus on how my doubts can be part of my journey of faith. It asks God to increase our faith by helping us through a process, a process that includes doubts. Notice that God is the one who reaches out and gives us what we need. God has already given us minds to question. God has already given us time to grow and mature. When we ask, God will give us diligence to learn and give us open hearts to trust and give us the desire to seek greater understanding with patience. This prayer “For Faith” also is honest about the fact that increased faith does not eliminate uncertainty. Yet, because of all that God gives us, we can answer God’s call to know, to love, and to serve God even in the midst of uncertainty. Amen.