Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord!

Today we heard a Gospel excerpt which relates events that began in the evening of the day of Christ’s resurrection and ended eight days later, on the following Sunday. It is very natural that this particular excerpt was read today because it includes the resurrection, which is remembered every Sunday, with the events of today’s feast, that is, those things which occurred one week after the resurrection.

We heard how soon after His resurrection the Saviour appeared to His friends, the Holy Apostles. While all of them, with the exception of Thomas, were hiding together, Christ came to them in a miraculous fashion by passing through locked doors and then sent down on them the Holy Spirit, comforting them with the words, “Peace be unto you!” Naturally, the Apostles told Thomas the joyful tidings about their unexpected meeting with Christ, but it was difficult for him to accept the news from his companions. One week later, Christ once again appeared to His disciples, but this time Thomas was present, and he was finally able not only to see and hear the risen Lord, but also to touch Him and in such a manner to come to faith.

Although today we heard about the unbelief or doubts of Thomas, we can also remember that all of the apostles doubted. Each of the evangelists notes that the disciples did not believe immediately and that some of them had doubts even after seeing Christ in Galilee, and that only after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on Pentecost was all of their unbelief swept away.

Probably all of us have to admit that there are moments in our own lives when we doubt or have weak faith. Sometimes we are very much like the Holy Apostle Thomas, and naturally this bothers us. All of us would like to have steadfast and immovable faith, which is as if founded on a rock. Let today’s Gospel reading give us courage and hope!

First, and perhaps most importantly, we can take note of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ did not abandon Thomas in his unbelief, but came to him and did all that was necessary for the apostle to believe. It was important for Thomas to not only see and hear Christ, but also to touch Him. The Lord gives him this opportunity. Apparently the other apostles did not need this. Peter and John believed when they saw the empty tomb and the linen burial clothes. Luke and Cleopas believed when they received Communion in Emmaus. Still others came to believe when Christ came to them through the shut doors. The remaining disciples believed on Pentecost. Most likely the Lord sends to us also all that is necessary for us to be made steadfast in faith.

The second thing that we can notice is that the Lord left Thomas in a state of unbelief for eight whole days. We can surmise that the other apostles, who had already believed, tried to convince Thomas throughout the entire week. Of course, we all want the Lord to strengthen our faith immediately, but often we have to wait, and sometimes we have to wait for an awfully long time before we receive what we desire. At such times we can remember Thomas who waited a full week to meet Christ and try to have humility and patience while we wait. Let’s also take note that we should take heed of the apostles and be convinced by them. Therefore, if we are attacked by doubts, the first thing we can do is open the New Testament and read the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and their Epistles.

Third, we can think today about the role of the Church and the Mysteries in the process of the strengthening of our faith. Christ breathed the Holy Spirit on the apostles at their first meeting after His resurrection. The faith of Luke and Cleopas was made strong when Christ blessed and broke Bread, i. e. when they communed of the Body of Christ. It therefore appears that the participation in the sacraments of the Church is obligatory for the strengthening of our faith.

Finally, let’s remember the words of our Saviour that blessed (i. e. fortunate) are those who, although they have not seen Him, have faith in Him. Sometimes, we very much want to see some sign or miracle to be convinced of His resurrection, but this is not the best of methods for strengthening our faith. Without a doubt it is better to believe without this, so as to not lose Christ’s blessing in the future life.

May the Lord God, through the prayers of St. Thomas and the other apostles, strengthen our weak faith.

priest Alexis