The story of the resurrection is overwhelming, and some would even say incredulous. It certainly was for the disciples when the women returned from the tomb with the account of seeing “two men in dazzling clothes,” who told them, “He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5). Luke tells us of the disciples’ response to the women, “But these words seemed to them an idle tale and they did not believe them” (24:11). Rising from the dead was not in their playbook. It had never happened before and just seemed impossible to them — and for us moderns as well.
Some years ago I began a homily on today’s gospel by saying, “Thank God for Thomas!” Some people in that city parish where I was preaching applauded. I guess they had a similar reaction to the passages as I did — and still do.
It helps me to know those disciples found the story of Jesus’s resurrection — something the women had not seen for themselves — incredulous. We can identify with their initial doubts and have to admit we probably would have reacted the same. In the light of those doubts we find their transformation more convincing. If those doubters came to believe, then maybe we can too. Not only did those recently-transformed doubters believe in Jesus raised from the dead, but they quickly became preachers of the good news to their doubting brother Thomas.
The doubting persists in the story — making it still more realistic. Thank God for Thomas! I like that Jesus comes to convince Thomas. I imagine that for a whole week Thomas must have felt “out of the loop.” His close friends and fellow disciples were celebrating, talking about Jesus alive and he could not share in the celebration. This intimate member of the close-knit community now is an outsider looking in. He must have wondered if they had lost their senses. Jesus risen from the dead? Impossible!
It’s hard to believe what another claims, even an intimate, when what they say sounds crazy. Thomas needs more than words, he needs proof positive, physical confirmation. We rely on our senses for our daily lives. That’s what Thomas wants, to see, touch and hear Jesus speak to him — particularly to touch the wounds. We too want proof to convince us, “If only I were there.” Perhaps we can turn the story around and look at it from the perspective of our own wounds, brokenness, need for healing, forgiveness and fears and ask Jesus to reach out and touch us in those wounds and raise us with him to new life.
John doesn’t tell us that Thomas actually touched the wounds. What we learn throughout his gospel is that believing doesn’t come from physical evidence, but from spiritual insight. Another clue to the reader that is consistent with the spirituality in this gospel: Thomas comes to faith in the midst of the believing community.
I’m reminded of a parish where I was recently. After the homily the catechumens who were to be baptized at the Easter Vigil were called forward with their sponsors. They stood in front of the congregation, we all raised our hands and prayed for them. We also prayed in gratitude for the parish believing community that had supported these fledgling believers, soon to become full members of the church and, in particular, this parish community.
After the service I talked with the catechumens. Each spoke enthusiastically about the members of the parish, their hospitality, witness of faith and personal support. The story of Thomas came to mind as we spoke. Thomas came to faith in the Risen Christ in the midst of a believing and witnessing community .
Which raises the question: How can we “prove” to others that Christ is risen from the dead? Our nourishment for that task comes from the Scriptures, preaching, teaching, personal witness, liturgical celebrations etc. — ways we can help a modern doubter like Thomas come to know Christ. But a focused answer to the question comes in today’s passage. People come to believe in the Risen Christ through their experience in the believing community. That’s the answer those catechumens gave. As of last weekend they are no longer catechumens, because they were baptized at the Easter Vigil. Christ is risen indeed!
I’m sure those who were about to be baptized weren’t naive about the community they were soon to be incorporated into. During their year of preparations they would have “touched the wounds” of the risen Christ in the community. No parish has perfect members — not even those responsible for teaching and witnessing to its future members. What kept the candidates in the process and led them to the baptismal waters, among other things, was how compassionate the community was towards its wounded members. Who among us isn’t wounded and when the wounds show, we too need acceptance and a healing touch from those who have seen the risen Lord.
Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” That is a favorite quote for a lot of us, those who have not “seen” the risen Christ as the disciples did. But we have come to see him now in the midst of the community. We don’t come to faith because we physically see Jesus, but through spiritual sight: the gift of the same Spirit Jesus gave those in the locked room when he said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
When a gospel writer gives information about time and place the reader knows to look for meaning beyond the chronological or geographical. Religious festivals ended with a celebration at the end of the week. But Jesus appears on the “first day,” the day he rose. John is telling us that something entirely new is happening. The past is over, now we look to the future and a new age. “On the evening of the first day of the week…” Jesus bestows on the disciples the Holy Spirit. He sends disciples out in the company of the Spirit, opening locked doors to the world beyond.
The resurrection accounts are not primarily historical. Rather, they are powerful testimonies of faith from a transformed group of once-scattered, discouraged, scared, disoriented people hiding behind locked doors fearing for their lives. Having witnessed the risen Christ and given the gift of the Spirit this disheveled group becomes a band of faithful, excited and fearless people who were ready and equipped to go out to the whole world.
We have a lot in common with Thomas before he saw the risen Christ himself. Like him we are called to believe based on the word of others. That’s something we can’t do on our own. But, as with those disciples, Jesus has breathed his Spirit into us at our baptism. Now we too have an experience of the Lord, even though we can’t see him. Instead, like Thomas, we have an experience of the risen Christ in our communities of faith. So, we keep our eyes and ears open and in the surprising and least likely people and places we will meet the risen Lord then, with Thomas, exclaim, “My Lord and my God.”