Redeemer

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?