In the Agora: Doubting Thomas

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December 21, 2007

Doubting Thomas

Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, our first New Testament saint (though other churches recognize his feast day as July 3rd, I like his inclusion during Advent). He is best known for his incredulity at the resurrection of Our Lord. We have few mentions of him in the Bible, so it is perhaps unfair that one episode should characterize him as "doubting." However, he, like Mother Theresa, reminds us that doubt is an almost universal element of the faithful life. Partly, this is because our sinful nature resists the divine, and partly, because the revelation of God confounds and astonishes human reason.

Even at the Last Supper, Thomas struggled to understand Jesus' promise. The Gospel of John 14:1-7

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Thomas' doubts point to the answer to our own: we rely on Christ to lead us to faith and salvation. In other words, if doubt is our prison, we know who holds the key.

Other entries in this series:

"Taking Back St. Nick" by Zach Wendling
"St. Ambrose" by Zach Wendling
"Pope Saint Damascus I" by Joshua Claybourn
"St. John of the Cross" by David Darlington
"The Commemoration of Daniel and the Three Young Men" by Zach Wendling

Posted by Zach Wendling at December 21, 2007 01:24 PM

Comments

I believe that doubt is a big part of our walk with Christ. Without doubt, we would not question. Without question we would not explore. And without exploration we would not discover. I have found that my walk with Christ has been filled with much doubt, however, throughout it all God was patient and worked with me as I questioned and explored the truths that He had set out for me.

Without doubt, I am almost sure that many people today would not have as strong a relationship with Christ as they do because of doubt.

Posted by: Pastor Nick at December 21, 2007 02:11 PM | permalink

We always forget Jn. 11:16 where Thomas, thinking what Jesus is doing will lead to His death, says Let's go and die with Him. May be a pessimist but he was ready to follow his Lord.

Posted by: Mike O at December 22, 2007 11:53 AM | permalink

December 21, 2007

Doubting Thomas

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