Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
On a recent vacation, I had the opportunity to spend time with some of my nieces and nephews. Like many adults, these young people are seeking to know who they are and how their faith and God fits into their understanding of life. During several conversations, I had the opportunity to share how God and my faith are an integral part of my life. As I reflect back on these discussions, I realize that it is not until we are faced with certain circumstances that we take the opportunity to stop and consider what we believe. Once we have confirmed our belief, then we are invited to go forth into the world to share the Good News with others.
In today’s gospel reading, Thomas is not present when Jesus first appears to the apostles following his resurrection. He doubts that Jesus has risen and claims he will only believe when he can see and touch the Risen Jesus. When Jesus appears and invites Thomas to touch his side and see his hands, Thomas responds with his profession of faith. Jesus comments that those who are not able to see or touch Him but still believe are blessed, since their faith is not limited by the experiences of the senses. Although Thomas has been with Jesus throughout His ministry, he still needs proof of Jesus’ divinity. Thomas’ doubt should be a source of encouragement for us, since this story reminds us that even those who were close to Jesus had moments when it was hard to believe. Jesus literally shares Himself with Thomas by offering him to touch his side and hands. Jesus invites Thomas to step forward and remove any doubts as He offers His peace and mercy.
In the first reading, St. Paul reminds all believers that through our faith we become “members of the household of God.” Our faith’s firm foundation is Christ Jesus who is the capstone. It is our faith that unites us as we become “fellow citizens” with all of the believers from the past and future. Together we become the Body of Christ alive and active in the world around us.
These scripture readings remind us that sometimes it is not until we are faced with controversy or questions that we really take time to assess what our faith means to us. As I spoke to my nieces and nephews, it was an opportunity for me to consider and share about my faith in Jesus, my commitment to my faith, and the belief that God’s love is the basis for all of creation. I commented that evangelization is more about living a life that stands apart and invites others to come and see what makes you think, talk and act in such a loving way.
As I think about the Catholic Church and its future, I worry that so many of our young people see an institution that is all about rules and regulations, and they do not see the love of Christ as the basis for our faith. These young people, like so many people in our current world, long for a community where love, mercy, compassion and inclusion are the graces that bring all together. I believe that these practices are exactly what Jesus preached during His life, and therefore as His disciples we are called to live this way as we practice our faith. The young people commented that the church is failing to meet these high standards, and I replied that we are a community filled with imperfect people that are still on a journey to know and live in the fullness of God. This should not cause us to walk away from our church, but should encourage us to find ways to become more Christ- like in the way we put our beliefs into practice.
There are so many graces that are part of our Catholic faith- the Eucharist, the sacraments, tradition, scripture. However, if these graces do not lead towards lives of love and mercy, others will view our faith as being empty and hypocritical. This is the challenge we face- it is not only what we believe, but how we allow God’s grace to transform us. Taking time to reflect on what we believe and how we can live out our faith in our daily lives provides us the opportunity to recognize God’s presence in our lives. When we invite His Spirit to walk with us on our journey, then we live our faith in fullness and boldly proclaim the Good News to others.
Loving God, Your Son Jesus shows us how to live. Help strengthen our faith through Your Spirit, so we can become instruments of your love and mercy in this world. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.
Marylynn Herchline