Believe in His Mercy!

I would not appreciate being remembered for my greatest weakness; however, that is how we have come to identify Doubting Thomas.

I remember about 3 years ago being on my annual retreat and meditating on today’s Gospel passage. I remember thinking at the time something along these lines…

This doesn’t make a lot of sense. Thomas was one of Jesus’s closest followers, one of the 12. He ate with him, talked to him, and surely had a close relationship with him and the other apostles. Jesus had told the disciples he would rise again (Matthew 17:23) and now they are testifying to Thomas that it is so because they saw Jesus when Thomas was not with them. Why wouldn’t Thomas believe after witnessing so many other miracles firsthand and hearing what his closest friends had to say? It seems so out of character! Why would he make this proclamation: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe”? (John 20:25).

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks…he must have felt so hurt. “(Thomas) was not with them, when Jesus came” (John 20:24). Why did he miss out? Why didn’t he get to experience this miracle firsthand? Was he not “special enough”? Was he forgotten? Did pain cause Thomas to disbelieve in Christ’s love and mercy?

The Risk of Believing

Believing is a risk, and I can relate to this feeling of wondering if I am forgotten, especially if I have been praying for something for a long time and have heard no discernible response. This experience is an ancient one. Despite God’s promise of numerous descendants, Sarah, 90 years old at the time, laughed at the thought that God could work this miracle (Genesis 18:12). How hurt Sarah must have felt after years of waiting! Believing takes a risk. If what we are praying for is not granted, then the pain from the deep longing will seem too much to bear.

For some reason, Thomas was not present when all the others had the grace of seeing Jesus in the flesh. For Some Reason…For Some Reason! Therein lies the next invitation: to believe that all is happening exactly as it does For Some Reason!

Trust in His Mercy

This Divine Mercy Sunday offers us this very invitation – to pray “Jesus, I trust in you!” In every situation and circumstance, there is nothing that is happening that God has not permitted for some reason. Can we trust like a child that God has it all in His Hands?

Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared after His Resurrection because it was better, more valuable that he is not present. By this very pain, Thomas was being strengthened to receive the greater gift of faith. Through this experience of tremendous doubt and disbelief, God brings about a far greater good. This gift is evident in Thomas’s next proclamation: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

I am deeply grateful for the story of Thomas, that his greatest weakness has become a light through the darkness of doubt. How comforting and encouraging it is to me in my weakest moments. The mercy of Christ is a fountain ready to pour upon us. Let us together ask God for the innumerable graces He has in store for us this special day. Let us together pray St. Faustina’s Praises of God’s Mercy written for all of us doubting souls. Let us leave behind our unbelief and believe in His Mercy!

The program that publishes our reflections does not allow web links, so you will have to use St. Faustina’s Praises of God’s Mercy in a search engine or look in your home library to follow Celina’s prayer recommendation.

—Paul

[Readings: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31]