Doubting Thomas
By Mike Lambrecht
In today's Gospel we heard the words of our Lord to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."1 Saint Thomas the apostle is often referred to as "Doubting Thomas." He gets a bad rap because he wanted proof that Jesus was raised from the dead before he would believe. Yet, we ourselves are often guilty of the exact same thing.
In today's society, we often encounter the exact same problem that Thomas gave voice to nearly 2000 years ago. Sure, it is under a different name, but it still exists nonetheless. We call it science. Don't get me wrong. Science can be a very good thing. However, when it is used as the sole source of measuring truth, it can become twisted and abused. More and more our society seems to accept the notion that if it can not be proven by science, it is not correct. Science can be used as a convenient tool to deny or obscure truths that have been revealed by God. In our culture, it is often used to attack faith. If you don't believe me, just look at such examples as when life begins, the creation of the universe, or even the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Like it or not, we live in an empirical society. Man wants to be able to measure and understand everything. Unfortunately, man does not have this ability--only God does. This goes all the way back to the original sin of Adam and Eve. Recall the words of the serpent to the woman, "God knows well that the moment you eat of it [the fruit] your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad."2 This temptation to be like God has not lessened with the passage of time. We are, perhaps, more guilty of it now than ever. For example, take a couple that can't have children. Some will accept it as part of God's plan for their lives. Others will give into temptation and turn to in-vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, or other means to circumvent the plan of God for their lives.
When contemplating these questions it is helpful to remember the words of Pope John Paul II:
Revelation remains charged with mystery. It is true that Jesus, with his entire life, revealed the countenance of the Father, for he came to teach the secret things of God. But our vision of the face of God is always fragmentary and impaired by the limits of our understanding. Faith alone makes it possible to penetrate the mystery in a way that allows us to understand it coherently.3
In other words, for all of the advances that science has made, there are still some things that we will never understand without faith. The resurrection is one such example. Without faith, we can not know that Jesus of Nazareth was, in fact, true God and true man. Without faith, we can not fathom why God would choose to become incarnate and suffer a humiliating crucifixion for us. Without faith, we can not know how much God loves us. Without the eyes of faith, we can not begin to see God in the appearance of bread and wine present at each Mass.
This Easter season, I would encourage you to take to heart the words of Jesus to Thomas, "do not be unbelieving, but believe." Rejoice in the love that God has shown us in the sacred mysteries which we have just celebrated during Holy Week. Spend time contemplating the resurrection. Give thanks that He who was dead is alive again-- and with Him, we too have the hope of resurrection.
1 John 20:27
2 Genesis 3:5
3 Fides et Ratio (Paragraph 13)