Are you a skeptic? Do you have friends or family who find it hard to believe? I once had a very intelligent and highly-educated friend who looked at me one day longingly and said, “Oh if I could only believe like you do. My head and mind won’t let me accept matters of faith.” I responded, “Don’t overthink. Let go of your desire to find reason, data, science behind matters of faith. Rather be like a child and trust. God’s hand is stretched out to you.”
Second Sunday of Easter Gospel
In today’s gospel (Second Sunday of Easter), we hear of the skeptic apostle, Thomas. Before he would believe in the Risen Lord, he wanted to put his hand into the nailprints and torn side of Christ. St. Cyrl of Alexandria instructs us on this Gospel message with these words:
As always, Christ had to be patient with Thomas when he said he would not believe and with the other disciples too when they thought they were seeing a ghost.
Because of his desire to convince the whole world, he most willingly showed them the marks of the nails and the wound in his side; because he wished those who needed such signs as a support for the faith to have no possible reason for doubt, he even took food although he had no need for it….
Blessed, therefore, is everyone who believes the message of the holy apostles who, as Luke says, were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions and ministers of the word.
If we desire eternal life and long for a dwelling place in heaven, we must listen to them.”
What a tender explanation St. Cyrl wrote. In this gospel scene we see Christ, once again, being the Good Shepherd. He seeks skeptics, or frightened sheep, and gently gives us signs to support our faith. There are times in all of our lives when our faith falters–a little or a lot. And, when those times come, let us remember this Gospel and believe that Christ has not left us nor has He forgotten us. He is there waiting for us and watching us.