Our Gospel this Sunday (John 20.19-31) is all about Thomas, who was not present when Jesus appeared to the disciples, and who we remember for saying “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). In fact, if you or I think about Thomas, we most likely will remember him as ‘doubting Thomas”, and will remember this incident.
Yet, his life was much more than this one moment where he lost faith … and not so much losing faith in his Lord, but rather in not trusting the word of the other disciples that Jesus had risen. While we remember him for this episode of doubt, it is important that we remember him for more than just that event. It was Thomas who, after Lazarus died and the disciples feared that if Jesus returns to Judea he will be killed, responds: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas, not apparently needing reassurance of his faith here, expresses a willingness to die for Jesus when the other disciples remain silent.
Other details of Thomas’ life come to us through the historical ecumenical record. Thomas died a martyr’s death, after evangelizing, among other places, Ethiopia and India. A more reasonable telling of his life would focus more on his discipleship, ministry in the early church, and martyrdom.
Focusing on the one story always told about him ignores the majority of what we know about his life. Yet, who among us has not wavered a bit in faith or had trouble trusting God? Thomas, far from faithless, led a life of extraordinary, persevering faithfulness to Jesus.
This second week of Easter as we travel together through this pandemic towards Pentecost, perhaps we can discover that the ways that Thomas lived his life can be an inspiration to us, when we lose faith in what others are telling us, and wonder where God is in all of the disruption our lives are facing.