Doubting Thomas. We sigh and shake our heads. Truth be known, we are more like him than we want to admit. Indeed we’re pretty good at turning away good news. The old saying; “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true”, might be our rule of thumb.

Just what would a modern Tribunal make of the reported resurrection? The fact of Jesus’ death as testified by bystanders and soldier would be indisputable. But, as for resurrection? Imagine the women admitting the body was no longer in the tomb and that they saw angels. The judge threatening to clear a laughter-filled courtroom. The characters of Mary Magdalen and Peter would be discredited by psychological reports of them as unreliable and traumatised. The Emmaus duo would admit that they only briefly recognised him and in an inn.

But imagine the evidence of Thomas. An impressed court would hear his quiet recounting of how he refused to believe. Of his gritty insistence to everyone on accepting only tangible proof. Which he got, a week later. Thanks to Thomas, the tribunal verdict might be swayed.

Small wonder his encounter with Jesus is recorded so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” Maybe tenacious not “doubting” fits Thomas more.

(Comments to Tom at stmarysrcathlone@oceanfree.net )