Second Sunday of Easter 19 th April 2009

(and also Divine Mercy Sunday)

Today we meet a friend who has a dubious reputation! This is the day of ‘Doubting Thomas’. In fairness, this is a Saint of our church who captures perhaps something that is in us all. We like to be as sure as we can before we give our assent to or place our faith in a person. Thomas had already had his hopes dashed when Jesus died. It had all looked so good and promising. There were the miracles, the walking on the water by Jesus, the feeding of thousands, the raising of Lazarus, that great wedding at Cana when there was eventually more than enough wine for everyone. That was some wedding party! Of course, there had been gloomy warnings from Jesus to them about impending death. But then it was looking better on Palm Sunday when the journey into Jerusalem on a donkey was for its time as good as a political party’s Convention. The crowds loved it all and threw their coats and branches plucked from the fields in front of Jesus as he headed for Jerusalem.

Then it went so wrong. Pilate gave in to pressure and handed Jesus over and had him scourged, crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross and there Jesus died. Well, in Thomas’ book there was nothing more final than death. Thomas loved the Lord and Master that he served and was devastated by His death. Then, Thomas hears that while he was out for a short while Jesus now alive and well came back to talk to the others. This was a step too far for Thomas and so he laid down the conditions for his assent to belief in the Resurrection – “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” (Today’s Gospel).

When Jesus offered to let Thomas do this, he melts and whispers “My Lord and my God!” Then we are brought into this great scene by Jesus because He says, You believe because you can see me. HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE.” That is really good because now I know that when I doubt and have difficulty with my faith, Jesus knows that it is not easy without seeing and touching and experiencing Him present to me. But when with Thomas I cry out in my anguish and desire to believe, “MY LORD AND MY GOD” the Lord Jesus calls me Happy or Blessed. That gives me a great deal of encouragement. There is not a trace of harshness in Jesus way of treating the doubt of Thomas and there is not a trace of harshness or criticism when you and I struggle with our belief. If it hadn’t been for Thomas maybe we would never have known this! Thank you, Thomas! Aidan Troy (Aodahán, C.P.)

Aidan Troy, C.P. (Aodhán Ó Troighthigh, C.P.)