Feeling blessed

 

When I read about the Apostle Thomas, two thoughts immediately come to my mind.  First, to pray for my brother Tom, who was named after one of the Twelve.  The other is the Gospel story and the familiar term of ‘Doubting Thomas’.  “Hah,” I think to myself, “that wouldn’t have been me.  I don’t have to see Jesus to believe.”

But then, doubt creeps in.

When I reflect on it, I feel I should give Doubting Thomas the benefit of the doubt.  I’ve heard my entire life about Jesus and the resurrection, about God made man.  Thomas was able to meet Jesus and be with Him, but Thomas knew Jesus as a man.  Jesus understood He was asking a lot of the apostles, including Thomas.  He gently told Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed.”  [John 20:19-31]

We all doubt.  We doubt our own ability.  We doubt our loved ones.  We don’t feel confident in what we believe.  We feel abandoned.  We’re not sure we’re worth much.

But the good news is that we can believe in Jesus, in the crucifixion and the resurrection.  Even if we can’t touch the nail marks or the scourges in Jesus’ side, we can believe in the presence of Jesus in our lives.

And if we believe in that presence, we have to erase the doubt about ourselves and others.  Today also is the Sunday of Divine Mercy, fitting as God’s mercy compels us to act, to forgive, to console, to help.  Acting with mercy compels us to overcome our doubts about ourselves and about others.  I can help.  I can contribute.  I can see Jesus in others and in myself.