Unbelief

Christ is Risen!

We are really very strange people.  When something SHOULD be believed, we don’t.  When something should NOT be believed, we do.

Examples?

When you SHOULD believe:  Put a WET PAINT sign on a public bench, then monitor the location with video.  Too many people who pass by feel the need to “test the sign” and reach out to touch and see if the paint’s truly wet.

When you SHOULDN’T believe:  Carl Sagan wrote a book titled Cosmos back in 1980.  To quantify creation (he would NOT use that word—it’s editorializing) he claimed in the book that there are 100 billion galaxies each with 100 billion stars.  And—people just believe him.  I mean, who counted?

Knowing these things about human nature, it’s not surprising therefore to find in the Gospel from Agape Vespers the interplay between the ten Apostles who were in the room when the Lord entered through closed doors and Thomas, who was NOT there.  John 20:24-25 says this:

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”  But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my fingers in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.”

The “wet paint” analogy is appropriate here.  “I’ve just got to touch it—I don’t believe it’s not wet.  I want—no, I NEED proof!”  And the only ‘test’ that satisfies the need for proof is that of touching.

We perhaps shouldn’t be so hard on poor Thomas.  He’s apparently not the only one who found himself in this state.  In Mat 28:17 we’re told, When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted…  So even in the state of SEEING the risen Lord, there remained some doubt among those who knew Jesus.

Thomas, for his part, held this position for another full week.  By this time, many people must have offered to him their words telling of their own encounters with the risen Lord.  But lack of belief remained, until…

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them.

Jesus waits, even after His Resurrection, for the EXACT right time to accomplish His purpose.

Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”

Take careful note—’peace’ is the first ‘gift’ of the Risen Lord to those He loves!  He knows that their hearts (and minds) remain in turmoil.  His presence is a gift given to dispel all doubt and worry.

Jesus immediately addresses Thomas, and invites him to “touch”.  His words remain consoling.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.

St. John doesn’t record IF St. Thomas actually reached out to complete this touch.  There’s wonderful iconography which implies that he did.  But whether he did or not is irrelevant.  What IS relevant is Thomas’ response to the invitation:  My Lord and my God!

Jesus gives a blessing to all who will come after the Apostles who will believe without needing to “touch the paint”, but who will believe because His Apostles, His followers, His Saints, His priests would tell others of His Resurrection, and these would believe.

Why?

Because the Holy Spirit continues to move in the Lord’s Church.  He continues to permit lowly people like us to share the glorious news of His Resurrection with all who the Holy Spirit moves to open their hearts to receive and to embrace the message.

It was a simple message then.  It remains a simple message today.

CHRIST IS RISEN!!!