Dear Church Family,
Christ is risen! As we contemplate the incredible mystery of Easter, and continue celebrating it through May and up to Pentecost, I want to make sure we talk about doubts. The Sunday after Easter is always the story of Doubting Thomas in the lectionary, but I’ll be going off-schedule this Sunday when I preach, so I thought it good to take some time addressing doubt here in Contact.
In the story usually named “Doubting Thomas,” Christ appears to most of the gathered disciples, apparently materializing within a room with locked doors – bolstering the argument of those who say his post-resurrection appearance was ghostly – and speaks with them. But Thomas was not there, and when the disciples tell Thomas what happened, he declares that he will not trust them until he can see and touch Christ for himself. Later, when Thomas is there, Christ appears again, and offers Thomas a chance to put his hands in the wounds on his hands and side – strengthening the argument of those who say his post-resurrection appearance was bodily. Questions of Christ’s body aside, this story is important because many of us can relate. Many of us might say “I won’t believe it until I see it,” or, in Thomas’ case, touch it.
I love reminding people that in Godly Play, the stories mostly don’t have names; or if they have names, they are only spoken by the adults for training purposes, and not named aloud to the children. Think of the importance of naming this story. Doubting Thomas forever becomes known by his actions on one day, relegating the sum of his life and discipleship to the one time he challenged his fellow disciples. And think of the whole range of other ways he could have been named, some positive, some negative: Thomas the scientist. Thomas the disbeliever. Thomas the heretic. Thomas the realist. Thomas the pessimist. Thomas the freethinker. Thomas the rationalist.
Doubts are an important part of the life of faith. Sometimes I fear my doubts, and if one creeps into my mind – especially at a time I wish I could be filled with faith and hope – it can shake my sense of spiritual security. But it’s important not to fear them or to push them aside. Often a doubt is just a question that needs to be answered, openly and courageously. It wasn’t wrong for Thomas to want to see Christ for himself. It isn’t wrong to ask for more information, or to withhold judgment until we’ve seen all we need to see. Ultimately doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it’s the opposite of surety, of having your mind made up and no questions left to ask. Surety can feel nice, but it’s unrealistic to think we can live our whole lives there. The world changes around us, and our minds change within us, as we experience life in different ways. Having big questions to ask, up to and including the resurrection itself, means your brain is on and your spirit is engaged. I’m grateful to be able to serve a congregation that understands this and yet still gathers to proclaim Christ is risen. May God the Mother of us all, who brought new life to Christ, bring new life to you daily and bless you with deep, enlivening questions.
Blessings
Talitha
PS: I will be out of the office on vacation for most of the coming week, though I’m not leaving town and you’ll see me on Sunday. My sister arrived today with her two preschool-age children, and will be leaving them here with me and Michael for “Camp Family” while she gets a chance to go see our mother in NYC. Our mother, by the way, is doing better and better with her recovery, and is approaching what in our family we like to call “slightly normal.” Anyway, I will be out of the office and at the playground. I’ll catch up with you all after the kids leave on May 4th.