This week, in the Gospel, we heard the
story of Doubting Thomas. Thomas was not
going to believe that Jesus was risen from the dead “until he sees the holes in
His hands and can put his hand in His side.”
After doing just that, Thomas says, “My Lord and My God.” After seeing Thomas, Jesus says, “You have
faith because you have seen, blessed are those that have faith and have not
seen.”
This example of Thomas, can make the
believers feel pretty good. See, we
believe without seeing, so we are blessed.
However, I want to take a look at this Gospel from a different point of
view. One question, do you know a
doubting Thomas or two? Do you know
someone that says they believe, but do not believe in coming to church? Do we know someone that is maybe on the edge
of believing but need that extra help to go all the way? What are we doing to help those we know who
doubt?
I used to be the doubting Thomas, until
my friend Bob came into my life. Bob and
I were playing golf on one of those sixty degree Sundays, in January, yes
January. As you can imagine, knowing any
golfer, stealing a day in January, for golf, in Indiana, is like getting an
extra Christmas Gift. Bob and I were on
the 12th hole, of a very busy, and slow golf game. Looking at his watch, Bob decides he has to
leave the golf course so he can make the Sunday evening Mass. At this time in my life, I was away from the
church, because I was doubting, like Thomas.
Bob, to this day, probably has no idea
what leaving the golf course, that day, meant to me. He set the example for me, a guy in my
twenties, that profoundly changed my life.
I did not know a bunch of guys my age that would give us a golf game for
church. His simple gesture, planted a
seed in me, that grew quickly, for it was about two weeks later that I started
attending church again, and am glad to say, that I have not missed a Sunday
since. I do not say that to brag, I
share this because I am afraid if I miss a Mass, I will quickly turn back to my
doubting ways.
Take some time this week and think
about someone that has maybe gone by the wayside from their faith. Take some time to share your experience with
someone that is thinking about coming back into the church. It does not have to be preaching, but that
would not hurt. It could be as simple as
sharing your faith experience, or telling someone the story about what brought
you back to the faith. It could be as
simple as turning down an invitation to a Sunday experience, like going to a
ball game, or giving up a golf game, and attending Mass, like Bob did for
me. It could be a simple invitation to
the doubting Thomas in your life, to join you at Mass.
If you know a doubting Thomas, talk
with them and encourage them to get back to their faith. If you are like my friend Bob, who did not
know I was like Thomas, do not take your for granted the example you are
setting by just simply putting God first in your life, and the example you are
setting for others.
