Today is Doubting Thomas Sunday (along with the second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday). The famous words of Thomas “unless I can put my finger into the wounds in his hands and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe” have left this member of the 12 apostles with a reputation as a doubter.

In other places in the gospels Thomas is the apostle who asks questions: we do not know where you are going so how can we know the way? He also makes realistic appraisals of situations: let us go to die with him in Jerusalem.

His question to the other ten apostles is a question people can put to the Church: show us the Lord with the visible signs of the crucifixion. We hear what you say to us about Him but let me see him too.

When people say this what is our response? In which direction do we point them? Where can they meet the Lord? They meet the Lord in us, in our worship, in our attentiveness to the word of God we find in the bible and which is proclaimed at every celebration of the Eucharist. They meet the Lord when they forget about themselves and in acts of kindness respond to the needs of people about them.

People who ask questions are blessed. They seek to know that their faith is resting on solid ground. People who ask questions are happy that Thomas features so prominently in the word of God. We are people who act by faith, not sight. Sometimes our faith is very strong. Sometimes it wavers. We confront situations in life for which we do not have some easy pre-packaged response. Surprisingly it is often in just such moments that the wounded Lord comes to us. We see his wounds but more importantly we hear his voice as he asks us to verify it is really Him. We then touch him in Holy Communion and go out with him to tell others about him.

As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.

Fr Adrian Farrelly