Dear Friends,

Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20)
We are meant to experience the Resurrection through action, by being shown, not simply by being told. Doubt and questioning are the pathway to living the greatest expression of love and the cornerstone of the Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12)

This past Sunday we heard the story of the Resurrection and St. Thomas from John’s Gospel. It is such a familiar story. When I asked the congregation about what word came to mind when I mentioned St. Thomas, there was no hesitation – doubt. Yes, Doubting Thomas.  

When did doubt get such a bad rap? The Church has historically characterized St. Thomas as somehow deficient. Maligned him, even, primarily per the interpretation of John Calvin, a French theologian of the Reformation. Who wants to be a Doubting Thomas? “Not you!” says the Church. 

I disagree and am glad to see the tide of thought similarly shifting. Doubt and questioning invite us to practice holding space for one another in kindness, compassion, and generosity of spirit. They open us to each other, reveal our biases, concerns, ignorance, and curiosity. In short, through self-disclosures of doubt and earnest questioning we offer ourselves fully to each other and make space simultaneously for humility and discovery. 

One of the most powerful ways to engage each other is to say, “I do not believe” It is another form of, “I don’t know.” It takes courage to say that in today’s world. To say, “I don’t know” offers ourselves up to the reality that we only know our own story and experience, not others’. We ae not the knowers of all. And it takes tremendous courage for someone to hear the resurrection experiences of others and say, that is not my lived experience. I will not believe it until it is mine too. 

Anyone who is marginalized and has not experienced access to the security of enough food (let alone enough quality food), to education, quality medical care, safe and reliable shelter; to healthy relationships, meaningful work, and appreciation for one’s gifts in whatever form or size they are offered; to any of the staples of human dignity, can probably tell any of the rest of us the challenge (and danger) of saying I don’t believe.

We are meant to experience the Resurrection through action, not simply by being told. Jesus talked a little about resurrection before he died, and people did not understand. He showed them a lot about what it looks like to live a resurrected life before his body was ever marked by the violence of the cross. He showed them what it was to be in relationship with all people (those with tremendous means, and those without) regardless of what it would cost in social status (even to the point of death). And people did not understand.

Then he came to them after undeniably being killed, showing them his marked body, and empowered them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Essentially, I believe he meant this: do what I showed you about being in relationship with all people and trust the good hard work of loving well. Accept the cost to yourself to bring all people into the fold and experience of God’s love. Live a resurrected life. 

What if we reoriented our understanding of the last words Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” What if these words were not so much for Thomas, but for all the disciples present, watching and hearing? 

The message for us is not about the hazards of doubt, but rather the hazards of not listening to doubt. It is about failing to listen to those left on the outside of the experience of resurrection, and showing resurrection not only by what we say, but by who we say it for and by how we practice our experience resurrection, no matter the cost to our social status. 

In Peace,

Rev. Dina