Theological Truth: The faith of Thomas is to be emulated, not criticized because it connects the head to the heart.
The Faith of Thomas
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
I’m often asked, “Why do you go by AJ?”
The answer says more about my parents than it does about me. It’s the first example of their protective instincts.
You see, my full name is William August Jude Heine, Jr. That’s a lot of names and they knew a nickname was inevitable. My dad went by Bill, so that was already taken. They realized the very real danger that I could wind up being called Little Willie Heine for the rest of my life, so in an inspired bit of protective parenting they decided to preemptively nickname me AJ on the drive home from the hospital.
Nicknames are important. They can create an expectation of what someone is like or how they behave.
Just ask Doubting Thomas. Today’s Gospel inspired that unfortunate moniker. Unfortunate and inaccurate.
There’s no Greek word for “doubting” in this text, and yet we hear this passage on the Sunday after Easter every year and invariably it’s referred to as Doubting Thomas Sunday. That’s not fair to Thomas. Nor is it helpful to all of us.
In reality, Thomas’ faith is worth emulating rather than criticizing. Here’s why and some alternative nicknames for Thomas.
Three Nicknames for Thomas
First, Thomas asks for what he needs. Think of him in this regard as “Honest Thomas.” He’s not there when Jesus appears on that first Easter Sunday, crossing locked doors, offering Peace, and breathing the Spirit into the group of shocked disciples (the same ones who didn’t believe Mary’s similar announcement earlier that day). He comes back from his errand and everybody rushes up to him breathlessly exclaiming that they have seen the Lord!
Thomas says he needs more — more proof, more evidence, something he can see and touch.
That’s an honest request. In pre-marriage counseling we call that being appropriately assertive. It’s important to make our needs known.
The same goes in our prayer life. Thomas’ request can be seen as an honest prayer. Notice that Thomas’ prayer does not go unanswered. Not that Jesus is like a genie answering our every “appropriately assertive request.” But prayers of seeking to know the risen Christ seem to get high priority. The more fervently we seek, the more likely we are to see Christ everywhere. It’s important to be honest like Thomas in prayerfully seeking Christ.
Second, Thomas doesn’t give up. “Persevering Thomas” is another possible nickname.
His perseverance is evident by the fact that a week later he’s still there. Everyone else had this amazing religious experience. They must have spent the week reveling in the joy and wonder, and probably trying to convince Thomas to just accept it. Imagine how isolated and frustrated he must have felt. Nevertheless, he sticks with it. And when Jesus appears, he offers himself to Thomas. Brian Stoffregen suggests an alternative translation, one that suggests the faith of Persevering Thomas:
“Do not become unbelieving, but believing.”
Or, “Do not become unsure, but sure. Do not become uncertain, but certain.”
Thomas is at a faith fork in the road. How often are we at the same place?
Religious educators call this the “Searching Faith” stage of normal religious development. This is when we ask questions like, “Is this what I believe?”
These are uncomfortable questions that require the faith of Persevering Thomas, as well as the accepting community of those early disciples.
For us, it requires a welcoming acceptance of people’s questions, a robust program of various types of Christian formation for people of all ages, and a culture that celebrates what people are becoming, rather than what they say they believe.
At Trinity, Persevering Thomases are welcomed, included, and assisted, because we believe Paul Tillich was right when he said:
“The old faith must die, eaten away by doubts, but only so that a new and deeper faith may be born.” (source unknown, quoted by Brian Stoffregen).
Third, since Thomas professes his faith, a better nickname for him would be, “Confessing Thomas.”
Upon seeing Jesus, Thomas proclaims, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas names not only this theological truth of Jesus being simultaneously fully Divine and fully human, but he also finishes what people refer to as “the farthest journey.” He makes it all the way from his head to his heart.
In that moment, Thomas bridges the great divide between what he knows with his mind and what he knows in his heart. He shares it out loud, but even more importantly, he also goes on to live it out fully in his life. Church teaching tells us that he brought the Gospel all the way to India.
Confessing Thomas joins the refrain of Mary and the rest of the disciples; “I have seen the Lord.”
The world we live in needs the faith of Confessing Thomas. We need to proclaim that we have seen the Lord — to confess with our lips and live out in our lives these Gospel truths: might does not make right; death is not the end; Love triumphs over evil; forgiveness heals guilt; Joy conquers despair; and there’s enough love, mercy, compassion, resources, and acceptance for everyone.
So, call him “Honest Thomas,” or “Persevering Thomas,” or “Confessing Thomas,” But don’t shortchange the importance of Thomas to our walk of faith.
Be honest in your prayers about what will help strengthen your faith. Continue coming for worship, prayer, and study especially when we’re at risk of becoming unsure or uncertain. And then go into the world in peace, like Thomas did, “one body, one spirit in Christ [to] worthily serve the world in Jesus’ name.” (BCP, p. 372).
Readings this week: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Second Sunday of Easter, Year C, April 24, 2022
