Easter 2, Year A

I like Thomas.  Thomas’ name is mentioned in the list of disciples in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but nothing else is said of him in those three gospels.  In the Gospel of John, however, we get to know him because there are three passages in which he speaks.  

The first is John 11, when Jesus hears from Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus is ill.  Jesus stays where he is two days longer and then says to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”  They are taken aback, and say, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?”  Jesus has a speech which he concludes by saying Lazarus is dead, and then says, “Let’s go to him.” Thomas says to the other disciples, “Let’s also go, that we may die with him.”  I like that courage Thomas has, even in the face of death, and the way he spurs the other disciples to act with courage too.

The second time we hear from Thomas is in John 14, where Jesus is talking about his Father’s house with many dwelling places, and going to prepare a place for them there, and taking them to himself, and says, “and you know the way to the place where I am going”.  It is Thomas who has the courage to put his hand up and say, “Wait a minute, Lord, we do not know where you are going.  How can we know the way?”  I especially like the little detail that he says “we” do not know where you are going, because Thomas can tell that none of the other disciples understand what Jesus is talking about either, but they’re afraid to admit it.  Thomas just comes right out and admits it to Jesus, and asks the question, and so he gets the answer from Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

The third time we hear from Thomas is in today’s passage in John 20.  John has told us that on that morning, Peter and the beloved disciple have seen the empty tomb, and returned to their homes.  The Risen Christ had appeared to Mary Magdalene that morning, and she has announced to the disciples “I have seen the Lord” and has told them what the Risen Christ said to her.  Today’s passage starts on the evening of Easter Day, when the disciples are in a house with the doors locked because they are afraid of the Jews.  The Risen Christ appears to them and interacts with them, and they rejoice.  Thomas is not with them that evening, so he doesn’t get that experience of seeing the Risen Christ.  I expect Thomas feels gutted when all the other disciples tell him they’ve had this life-changing experience of the Risen Christ, and he hasn’t.  He says he won’t believe it unless he has the experience of touching the wounds. 

Still, Thomas has the courage to stick with the other disciples, which is no small thing.  So he’s with them a week later in the house.  Jesus arrives among them and says, “Peace be with you.” Not, “you idiot!” but “Peace be with you.”  Then he tells Thomas, “Go ahead and put your finger in my hands, and your hand in my side.  Do not doubt, but believe.”  Then believing Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!”  That is a wonderful moment.  

But my favourite part is what happens next.  Jesus says, “Have you believed because you have seen me?”  The scriptures have wonderful descriptions of people who see Jesus, and people who see God.  They see visits from angels, they see miracles, they see God speaking to them in dreams, they hear the voice of God, they see healings, they see mighty deeds of power.  And in our own time, there are people who have had experiences of seeing God in a vision or in a dream.  People who have heard God speaking to them.  People who have witnessed a miracle.  People who have felt a deep sense of God’s presence with them. 

And there are other people who have not had these experiences.  They often wish they did.  They often feel envious when they listen to other people talking about the ways they have had these experiences.  They often feel their faith is less than.  What does the Risen Christ say?  The Risen Christ says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  You may feel your faith is less than, but the Risen Christ says you are Blessed.  

I like Thomas.  And I also have the sense that this passage isn’t really about Thomas, in the end.  It’s about you.  It’s about us.  It’s about all of us who have ever felt our faith was less than, and maybe even wondered whether to ditch the whole thing.  Ultimately, this passage is about all of us who have not seen and yet have come to believe.  Whatever faith you have, the Risen Christ says, you are Blessed.  All of you who have not seen and yet have come to believe, the Risen Christ says, you are Blessed.