Are you a doubting Thomas?

Sweden
April 18, 2009 2:12pm CST
On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. "Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. Saint John 20,19-31
1 response
• Malta
18 Apr 09
I know this passage from the Bible and I am sure many others do. I don't understand such a long discussion title just to ask if we are doubting our religion. For me the answer is not clearcut: sometimes I doubt, sometimes I have deep faith. Thomas after all just showed the human aspect of all of us. I think it would have been better to ask: who hasn't ever had doubts in his life (whether for religion and for other reasons), but then again I have my doubts (excuse the pun!!) if anyone would have really answered!
• Sweden
19 Apr 09
Thank you for responding. I am happy that you are familiar with this passage. This actually today's gospel, that you already know? I have posted this discussion is to invite those who have doubts in life like you, who can share with others the results of their doubts. I might not get much response because my thoughts are deeper than what you have written. Why doubt if your faith is so strong? Thomas needed proofs to believe. How many times do we touch a bench to check if the paint is dry, when a sign says newly painted? Why? The human aspect of course comes into the picture, but why can't we trust what the sign says? Why the doubting?
• Malta
19 Apr 09
I know that it's today's gospel. Doubting Thomas gospel is always read on the Sunday after Easter. I have stopped asking myself some questions. We doubt and we act in such a way because I feel it's the human nature. Same thing applies to making mistakes. We do something wrong, sometimes knowing that it is the wrong thing to do, yet we do it just the same. Thomas is the most human of us all. He wanted to know if he was really talking to Jesus. I sympathize with Thomas a lot. He just needed to be sure about something, and honestly, even if I had the opportunity, I would have done just the same. He's the lucky one, he managed to actually see and touch the Risen Lord! Peter, on the other hand lied, knowing that he is lying when for three times he repeated that he never knew Jesus.