To Walk in His Way
Second Sunday of Easter. Fr Andrew Brookes considers the faith journey of the Apostle Thomas.
The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus are full of surprises from the perspective of their recipients. It shows in their reactions on nearly every occasion. Recorded for us in the accounts, it adds to their credibility: this is not the stuff of self-suggestion, consciously willed, or subconsciously desired. By contrast, from Jesus’s perspective, I am sure that it was all carefully planned.
In regard to today’s Gospel that means of course that Jesus appeared in the Upper Room on Easter Sunday evening knowing that Thomas, alone among the remaining eleven apostles was not present. The appearance was an overwhelmingly positive experience for the ‘Ten’, bringing them peace and assurance after they had all abandoned Jesus in Gethsemane, and a renewal of the calling to be sent out by Jesus, this time with the gift of the Holy Spirit breathed upon them.
Despite them sharing the news with Thomas, it is easy to see how he would feel left out, and wonder why. We might wonder at a human level why he was not there, full of fear, hiding from the Jewish authorities. The previous information that the Evangelist has given us about Thomas may cast some light on this and these resurrection episodes. When Jesus, in the context of facing death threats, makes plain he will go up towards Jerusalem to visit Bethany, Thomas says ‘Let us go up to die with him!’ (Jn 11:16) The statement expresses bravery if also misunderstanding, but it does mark him out as not overly fearful. He is intent on following Jesus closely, no matter the personal cost. Thomas’ desire to follow Jesus along the way he will go also finds expression also at the last Supper. (See Jn 14:1-7)
I wonder if Thomas out and about, less fearful than the others, half hoping to be arrested and killed, so he can follow the way of his Master, at least unto death, and perhaps now beyond death. Maybe he thought he would be more likely to find and embrace the will of God on the streets, rather than hiding in upper room? The appearance of Jesus in the Upper Room would challenge but also upset his thinking.
When he is excluded from the Resurrection Appearance, does he wonder, with Judas already removed from his post, if he too has now been removed from his post, perhaps due to rash if well-intentioned presumption of courage?
Whatever his doubts or questions, his mindset is radically changed when Jesus appears the following Sunday, on the eighth day. Jesus repeats the words that Thomas had spoken in the absence of Jesus. This unnatural – indeed supernatural – knowledge expressed by Jesus, plus the clear physical presence of Jesus and the unflinching invitation to touch him, brings Thomas to his knees and to faith. He applies key Jewish terms for God, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH, ‘Lord’) and Elohim, ‘God’, to Jesus. Thomas asked for proof of his ongoing living visible humanity; he confesses his belief in his eternal living invisible divinity. It is a classic and full confession of Jesus.
Jesus goes on to point out that Thomas believed because he had seen. Jesus’s words that follow, in which he approves and blesses those who will believe without seeing looks to all those who will believe on the testimony of the apostles. In effect, if Thomas had chosen to believe on the evidence of the other apostles, he could have had the privilege of being the first such recorded person! As it is, he has the experience of his own struggle to accept the testimony of others, and the failure or misplacing of his courage, as useful experiences to help others come to belief in Jesus as part of his ministry by which he will truly walk in way of Lord as planned by the Lord for him!
Jesus always knew he would only visibly appear to a few witnesses, chosen beforehand, and after that people would be invited to believe on the word of their testimony. But the word of their testimony is not just words looking back to a past memory but expressing an ongoing relationship with a Living Lord, who reigns from Heaven, and who lives and reigns in their hearts. After that first generation, people would be invited to rely on the written words of the Gospel and the ongoing faith of each generation of disciples.
This pattern of believing continues. We are asked to believe on the basis of the apostles’ testimony recorded in the Scriptures, on the testimony of other believers over the centuries and those around us now, especially those who speak to us of their faith, and also because the invisible Risen Lord and his Holy Spirit work at least small signs for us, and make their presence felt and seen and known to us, and who stir up faith, hope and love in us, prompting us to exclaim to Jesus ‘My Lord and My God’. In turn we become witnesses, sharing our testimony, walking in the way of the Lord for us, telling of the Living Lord Jesus to others, and inviting them to confess him, to believe, know and love him, and so to receive eternal life, to follow Jesus and to walk in his Way, like Thomas.
Readings: Acts 5:12-16 | Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19 | John 20:19-31
Image: detail from a side-altar frontal by Bentley in St Cuthbert’s Seminary, Ushaw, photographed by Fr Lawrence Lew OP
