The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
Caravaggio c. 1601–1602.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.
A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Charles Dickens
Incredulity has haunted Thomas.
Incredulity (in·cre·du·li·ty) noun the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
When I suggest that it has haunted Thomas, I am referring to the way in which Thomas is primarily been remembered as the stubborn one -- as the disciple who couldn't quite get it. He has been characterized as being a bit slow on the uptake. Thomas has been dubbed the doubter. Before he could believe, Thomas needed visceral proof that Jesus had indeed been resurrected from the dead.
Every year on the Second Sunday of Easter, we are confronted with this same scene of the disciples in their safe house, hidden away and wondering what's next. We hear again that Thomas was late to the gathering and so had missed out on the appearance of Jesus. The others told him what had happened and what they experienced, but Thomas wanted to see it to believe it.
I invite you to gather on Sunday morning both for the Adult Education class in the fellowship hall at 8:45 (bring your bible!) and for worship at 10:00. We will study, explore and discuss the passage from John's gospel that relays what transpired on the evening of that glorious day of Christ's resurrection.
May our incredulity be transformed into boldness and joy in the hope, promise, and reality of Resurrection life.
Second Sunday of Easter
April 8, 2018
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God,
with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection.
By the grace of Christ among us,
enable us to show the power of the resurrection
in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-31
