Thomas

In this week’s Gospel the Apostle Thomas is experiencing a crisis in faith. On the first Easter night, when Jesus had appeared to the disciples who had gone into hiding, Thomas was absent. When they told him that they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas doubted. “Unless I see the holes that the nails made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe,” said Thomas.
Then it happened! Eight days later, Jesus again appeared to the disciples and this time Thomas was present. Jesus spoke to Thomas: “Look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer, but believe.” To which Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus answered, “You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!”
Only when we begin to live the new life in Christ, only when we begin to carry out our Christian ministry of loving service, do we really begin to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
The philosopher, Frederic Nietzche, an atheist, once was talking to a group of Christians who were trying to convert him. He is reported to have said to them, “Show me first that you are redeemed, and then I will listen to your talk about a Redeemer.” We have no way of knowing whether or not he was actually sincere in what he said. However, assuming for a moment that he was truly sincere, if he had known you, if he had really known you, would he have been willing to listen to you talk about your Redeemer? Has your faith in the Risen Christ made that much difference in your life?