Easter 2 (Cycle “C”)
April 7, 2013

Q. 731: Is there a conflict between faith and reason?

A. 731: There is no one reading this commentary who has not felt the emotional effects of doubt or disappointment at one time or another. I can remember a homilist at a Mass in the past who said, “If you have never experienced doubt in your life, then you can get up and leave; the gospel today will have no meaning for you.” Our “doubting Thomas” episode today (John 20:19-31) is a classic example of a disappointed doubter. The story always reminds me of the insistent demand for proof by a football agent’s client, in the 1996 “Jerry Maguire” movie. Even the State of Missouri website continues the legend about a Missouri congressman who said “frothy eloquence neither convinces me nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have to show me.” Rigid doubt demands proof. Jesus asks for faith instead.

Thanks to the patience and mercy of our good and gracious God, the disappointed doubter Thomas the apostle was given his proof of the Resurrection. Jesus appeared when Thomas was present with the others, and showed him the nail marks and spear mark. Thomas then believed.

What immediately follows the profession of faith from Thomas is that most beautiful beatitude from the lips of the Risen Jesus: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” You see, it is really Jesus we need to focus on, not Thomas. Jesus is calling everyone to believe in Him, and to seek refuge in him, even though they do not see him with their own eyes. Everyone is being invited by Jesus to accept the eyewitness of the apostles and disciples to the Risen Jesus. That puts the ball back in our court; just like the reality of a tennis game, the statement-invitation of Jesus calls for a response from each of us.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Faith is a free response, a personal action. We do not believe in formulas, but in those realities they express, which faith allows us to touch. We receive the life of faith through the Church, our teacher in the faith, and every believer should hand it on to others (CCC 166, 169, 170). Our submission in faith must always be in accord with reason (CCC 156). This is Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus told St. Faustina to exhort everyone to have faith, “to trust in the bottomless depth of My mercy” (Diary, 1567).

an obligation to spread and defend the faith (CCC 1285).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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