Gospel: John 20:19-31  A Saint for dark times

Reading the news can be upsetting these days.  It often seems that there is nothing but bad news.  People are suffering across the world due to unjust economic systems and environmental degradation.  Increasing numbers are homeless or living in poverty.  Hateful rhetoric is becoming more widespread.  We sometimes loose hope and go through shaky patches.  We find ourselves asking: where is God in all this?

In today’s Gospel we meet Thomas.  As a disciple of Jesus, he has been through the mill.  His friend has been brutally killed.  The terrible suffering is still fresh in his mind.  Now, the disciples’ own lives are also in danger, so they are lying low.  Traumatised and grieving, Thomas is not ready to hear the comforting words of his friends who say they have seen Jesus.  His momentary wobble has earned him the nickname ‘doubting Thomas’, and it certainly makes it easy for us to relate to him.  When, an agonising week later, he does finally encounter Jesus, we can sense relief when he exclaims, ‘My Lord and my God!’  The man labelled ‘doubter’ now gives us one of the greatest expressions of faith.

We know life can be painful and messy, even unbearable at times.  It is hard to hang on to our faith when we are grieving or anxious.  Like Thomas, our trust can be shaken.  Like the disciples huddled in the room, we can be afraid of what the future will bring.  It can be difficult for us to accept assurances that God is with us.  We may struggle to pray.  We can become closed and isolate ourselves.  Yet, Jesus came among the disciples in their despair, calming their troubles hearts with these words, ‘Peace be with you’.  He came again to doubting Thomas, reassuring him with his presence.  Thomas is a saint for those times of darkness.  In our darkest days, may we encounter the healing presence of the Risen Christ.

© Triona Doherty & Jane Mellet, 2021.  The Deep End: A Journey with the Sunday Gospels in the Year of Luke.  (Dublin: Messenger Publications 2021.

“Life will always prevail, through all the layers of death in which we try to contain it”

Margaret Silf