John 20:19-31
We’ve all had the experience of popping out for a while (or longer), and coming back to hear; “guess who showed up while you were gone?” Would you believe it? Well, you’d nearly want proof. So, don’t blame Thomas for his insistence on evidence of Jesus.
It is perhaps unfair that Thomas became the poster child for faithless doubt. After all, his fellow disciples do not acquit themselves so well – locking themselves up in fear. Doubt is not the opposite of faith: fear is. Thomas had doubts, but did not fear to venture out and then had the courage to return
There he changed. He was converted to belief. It’s no coincidence that the words conversion and conversation both have the same root meaning. Thomas’ conversion to belief was experienced in community: in “conversation”. On his own, he had only his doubts for company; in community, he encountered the Living Christ.
If you read this in a pew. Look left, look right. Do you know who’s beside you? Can you name ten people living on your street? If not? Why not? You don’t want to? Isolation is no option for a Christian. We’re a family faith.
“the whole group of believers was united, heart and soul” (First Reading)
(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )