Poor Thomas! He picked up the name Doubting Thomas because he’s the one who was busted saying, “Unless I see the marks of the nails and feel his side, I will not believe.”
And in an instant, he’s “that guy” for all eternity.
Why couldn’t he be known as Just Double Checking Thomas? Or This Is Too Good To Be True Thomas? Or Just Cause I Said It Out Loud Doesn’t Mean You Weren’t Thinking It Thomas?
Thomas got a bad wrap. Quickly. However, just as quickly, when Jesus returns a few days later, he becomes the Yes Lord I Believe Thomas. What a rollercoaster!
Ever been on a Faith Rollercoaster? On one right now?
I love Thomas’ story because it reminds me that even the Holy Moly 12 had issues with their faith. Even the Varsity Disciples doubted that God could even conquer death itself. If the other clowns hiding in the house had also fully believed, they probably wouldn’t be hiding, locked away or grieving but would have been out in the streets shouting about it. Expecting that this was going to happen the whole time! So, none of them really gets the Disciple of the Year Award that day.
It’s OK to have questions in our faith. It’s OK to be the guy in the Zoom meeting that asks how on Earth is God in this meeting? It’s OK to want proof.
It think that’s why Jesus breathed on them, right then and there: to give them the Holy Spirit and to sense Peace. That part of God’s presence that would carry us when those doubts overwhelm, when the grief causes questions, when we need the cliche “Footprints” poem to be a reality and have someone carry us.
That’s the Faith Rollercoaster. And the beautiful part of the 12-car group traveling those rails today is that the cars are filled with a little belief, a little faith, a little doubt, a little questioning, a little humanity, a little imperfection, a little forgiveness and a lot of Holy Spirit belting us all it.
May you feel that belt around you today with all you bring to the ride and know of God’s presence through all the ups, downs, twists and turns.
Lord, strap us in! Here we go! Amen
Still in One Peace,
PS
