The need for doubt

Every year the Sunday following Easter is often called Low Sunday in reality it should perhaps be called Doubting Sunday as it is on this Sunday that we hear the story of Thomas the Twin, called Doubting Thomas (Jn 20.19-31). I really think that we need to totally re-think this description of Thomas and rather call him Inspiring Thomas. We need to really read the end of each Gospel exceptionally closely to realise that this description of Thomas is indeed accurate and that it is our total misreading of his story that has caused Thomas to be so defamed by history. Indeed Thomas can be said to have built the Church in both physical terms in India but also in terms of his faith.

In looking at the end of each of the synoptic Gospels we can clearly see that doubt is a continuing message that resides in the hearts and minds of the disciples despite everything that Christ does or portrays. The Christ in Mark (16.14) actually castigates them for their stupidity and doubt.even after being told by both the women (well they are women) and the men coming in from the country (shades of Emmaus) (Mk 16.11-13). Luke's gospel demonstrates the disciples continuing disbelieve and doubt by going through the sight test, the touch test and finally the eating test (Lk 24.36-43) and that is after the doubts expressed following the women's revelation and the revelation of the Emmaus pair. Matthew is somewhat more circumspect with the doubt, it is almost as if he is trying to correct the doubt in the other two Gospel stories. Yet he also succumbs in the end to releasing the doubt present (Mtt. 28.17). Then finally the most explicit story of doubt that we listen to today.

Caravaggio  did not read his Gospel and so perpetuates our doubts

In looking at the story of Thomas it is perhaps something we can relate to more than the others. Here is a person who in the first part of the story is not present and is told about Christ's appearance. Who among those listening have not at one time or another disbelieved a tale that has been told by a friend and wanted proof that it occurred? Thomas asks for no less than the other disciples have received other than to physically touch. For ourselves, sight of something is much more relevant than any of the other senses, if we do not see it we will not believe and then if we can touch it so much the better for then we can categorically state that it is real. So, why do we call Thomas the doubter when we too would doubt just as much under the same conditions. Indeed at this stage in the story the disciples were as much doubters as Thomas but had been given proof. In the second stage Thomas is present when Christ appears and in addressing Thomas what was asked for for proof is now given...or is it. The reality of the story is a lacunae a gap. Thomas states his understanding before there is an opportunity to touch and Christ's following words are support of non-tactile proof (Jn 20.27-29).

So what is the point of doubt? Do we need it? The answer is yes we do. All of those we call saints doubted at some point and it was upon this doubt that they built their faith in God. Doubt is ever present in our lives. We only have to look at the recent polls in America to demonstrate the reality of doubt. Even with the greater standard of education and knowledge today we still doubt, sometimes the simplest realities. If this is the case how can we even think of making fun of those who doubt and call them doubting Thomases. Thomas came to a realisation of God's presence in Christ as he proclaimed "My Lord, my God" perhaps faster and to a greater extent than the other disciples. This is what is present in our proclamation of Christ as we do so without the solidity of scientific proof. We require doubt to show us where the truth is in the live's we live. Doubt allows us to go beyond the mere facts and step out into the unknown clinging to the presence of God in our hearts. Yes, as we do, we doubt but upon that doubt we build the faith of God's presence and we are filled with great joy as we find God's love returned to us on a daily basis as we minister in his name.