Believing Thomas Funny things, labels. They tend to stick. To the exclusion of anything else. Names and associations from the Bible still have weight, embedded in culture, even if the culture has apparently moved on. For example, have you ever met a Judas? I haven't.

And today the Church remembers another labelled individual. Thomas, rarely referred to without his prefix, "Doubting" Thomas. The one apostle who as far as we know dared to speak for the majority of us when he said unless he could see and touch the resurrected Christ that he would not believe. A worthy saint for scientists and sceptics.

Yet, as I was reminded this morning he does have another name and another side. Thomas the Apostle. Faithful Thomas. The apostle who, when confronted with Jesus wish to return to dangerous territory, a place that might even cost him his life, en route to raising his friend Lazarus from the dead, said, "Let us also go and die with him." That's not the language of a doubter. That's belief and trust.

And lest we forget: very little evidence of the ministry of the apostles has passed down the centuries to us. We don't really know much of their mission and journeys, just a few uncertain tales and legends. About Thomas comes the story of his journey to South India (far more probably some disciples of his school), and a martyrdom. But, unlike so many other apostles his name lives on in the ancient-rooted Mar Thoma church and other related groups.

"Doubting" Thomas? Somehow I doubt it!

Almighty and eternal God,
who for the firmer foundation of our faith,
allowed your holy apostle Thomas
to doubt the resurrection of your Son
till word and sight convinced him:
grant to us, who have not seen, that we may also believe
and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Labels: Faith, Life

  ¶ 8:23 am