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Gospel: John 20: 24-29

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 Thomas 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Why is this story of doubting Thomas the final story in John’s Gospel?

Perhaps John is giving us permission to be Thomas. To ponder, to doubt, to question, each in our own way. I’m sure we’ve all said at some point, “Wait a minute… how can that be?”

Maybe we’ve questioned the possibility of the bodily resurrection; how personal God claims to be; or one of the many Catholic doctrines about Jesus, Mary, or the Eucharist.

It isn’t wrong to question; exercising reason is a healthy thing. But when we ask questions about our faith, we must also take the responsibility of finding the right answer.

Ultimately, every tenet of our Catholic faith is upheld by reason, even if part of the answer – like God’s existence – is shrouded in ministry.

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Thomas reveals to us where the answers to our questions can be found – in the presence of the Church.

The reason why his heart was filled with doubt in the first place was because he wasn’t with the others when Christ first appeared. He was hiding elsewhere, grieving on his own.

The Lord only reveals himself to Thomas after Thomas re-joins the Apostolic community, and by extension, the Church.

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This is where most of our answers can be found.

We not only have the Bible, 2,000 years of tradition, the writings of the popes, Saints, and martyrs, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promises will, “lead us to all Truth.”

It’s okay to be Thomas – to doubt, to ponder, to question. But when we do, make the effort to find the right answer by seeking out, praying with, and studying the wisdom of the Church.

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Image credits: (1) Inc. Magazine (2) Doubting Thomas, Caravaggio (3) The Fold

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Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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It’s easy to imagine the storm the disciples find themselves in. The waves are rising, cresting, then crashing upon them. It’s the middle of the night, they’re slipping, falling, soaked, and Jesus is fast asleep.

Peter awakens the Lord, crying out, “Save us! We are perishing!”

A sleepy Jesus rolls over, stands up, then calms the wind and sea. Exhausted, the disciples wonder, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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A surface level reading of today’s Gospel passage might lead us to conclude, “When the storms of life are raging, cry out to Jesus. Awaken him. Stop him from sleeping.”

As if the Lord is unaware of the storm we’re in.

Perhaps the deeper invitation is to learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable. It seems like an oxymoron, but when the storms of life are raging, God calls us to rest.

Why, you wonder? Look at the disciples.

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It isn’t that Jesus is unaware of the water. He’s just as soaked as they are. If the ship goes down, then they all do!

But Jesus is able to rest because he has absolute confidence in his Father, who will never abandon him. As the Psalmist proclaims, “the floods of water may reach high, but you they shall not overcome.”

The Lord sees the bigger picture; the disciples got into the boat in the first place to get to the other side. Once they land, there is work for them to do.

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So, what might this mean for us?

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Storms do not mean we’re headed in the wrong direction or that God has abandoned us. Rather, in those moments, Jesus is inviting us to rest. We will not be overcome.

Save your energy for the other side, which God is calling you to. When the storm is over, the real work begins.

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Image credits: (1) The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (2) Calming the Storm, Eugene Delacroix (3) Cloudy River and Boat, Samiran Dakar

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Gospel: Matthew 8: 18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him,
he gave orders to cross to the other shore.
A scribe approached and said to him,
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Another of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,
and let the dead bury their dead.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Saint Augustine is one of the most important theologians the Church has ever known. After converting to Christianity in the 4^th century, he proclaimed the Gospel with exceptional clarity and depth.

But prior to his conversion, he lived a storied life, often indulging in carnal pleasures.

Around the time of his conversion, he’s famously quoted as saying, “Lord, make me chaste… Just not yet.”

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Augustine knew what was right; he wanted to do the Lord’s will… 

… Just not yet.

The same is true for one of the figures in today’s Gospel. “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go…But let me first go and bury my father.”

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead,” Jesus says. 

Meaning, stop making excuses. You know what is right. Follow me…now.

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In what ways do I make excuses to avoid doing the Lord’s will?

Maybe I hoard my time; I’m hesitant to share it with others. I’ve clung to a habit one day too long. I’ve neglected to be charitable, honest, or prayerful. 

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“Follow me,” the Lord says.

Not tomorrow. 

Today.

What might that mean for me?

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Image credits: (1) Not tomorrow today, Darius Foroux (2) Choose God _ Choose Love, WordPress (3) uCatholic, Facebook