"The Mystery of Faith"

Perhaps one of the most remarkable facts about the Scriptures is that in its pages one can find heroes and scoundrels, repentant individuals as well as knuckleheads.  For instance, our first lesson tells as the story of a fisherman now converted into a street preacher – Peter.

Peter who just a few weeks ago denied Jesus!  But who now is even willing to go to jail for challenging the religious leaders of his time.  But as we know it is the same Peter who years later would cause so much heartburn to St. Paul.  So, as you can see, all sorts find a place in the Scripture.

And what about Thomas?  But as we know he was not alone is having doubts about the Risen Christ.  For, as both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke make clear that Thomas was not alone in his doubts (Luke 24:38, Matthew 28:17).  In hearing about the Resurrection, many of our Lord’s closest friends dismissed the story as fake news.  In a way, for them all – and should I include ourselves in their lot?  their experience did not fit into the realm of their expectations.

No one can add an extra chapter to the Scriptures.  However, in the great book of heaven even our own stories will find a place.  So, if anything the good news about the Scripture is that all sorts and sundries can fit into the great story of salvation, the story of Jesus and his love.  Indeed, there is room for us all!

For God was never intent in setting up a family of exhibition-quality folks, all faultless and perfect on their own strength.  Rather, as Jesus said, He did not come to seek well-mannered and respectable people but the discards and the side-tracked so He could make them whole again.  And, so, this is why I believe that we all can find room under the extended arms of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross.

Now, going back to the Gospel, perhaps sixty years of so after the event, St. John is not afraid to share that he and his fellow disciples experienced when they were hunkering down “afraid” of the religious leaders and waiting for what it could turn out to be a be payback day.  

John was not reluctant either in sharing about Thomas or his incredulity.  For in their own way, they all were hiding, scared, and as St Matthew and St Luke acknowledge, doubtful as well.  While most of the disciples stuck together, Thomas, on the other hand, he skipped town.  Was he afraid of his own doubts – or was he afraid of not finding room among his friends?

Yet John did not shy away from presenting a picture so deeply human, so raw in its portrayal of fear and vulnerability at all levels.  In his gospel, John painted a moment when bravery faltered, when the apostles, the very foundation of the Church, cowered behind locked doors! And even some having serious questions to the fundamentals of their faith.

What emerges from this tapestry of fear and faith is a striking paradox: it is in their very vulnerability where Jesus shows up and then find their eventual courage.  It is this honesty, this authenticity of their human experience, that makes the Christian story resonate across centuries.

Yet, the fears and doubts which crisscrossed the minds and hearts of the disciples emphasizes a God who in Jesus steps into the messiness of human life, to impart peace in the middle of the storms and the strife of life, love amid doubt and uncertainty.

So, in a way, in writing his Gospel, John is allowing us all to feel welcomed into the fellowship of his fellow apostles.

For like the apostles, we all have our moments when we struggle with faith, when all that we can see are doors all closed around us.  Or dealing with a Jesus who appears to be far removed from the questions and struggles of our lives. 

Another piece of good news is that when Thomas finally meets the Risen Christ, he is not sent back to Sunday School but he receives an unexpected invitation.  In other words, Jesus teaches him – and us all – that faith is not the absence of questions or doubts but the triumph over them.  Blessed are those who believe without seeing, Jesus said.

Also of notice in today’s story is that Jesus’ wounds, far from being concealed, are presented as the ultimate testimony—a reminder that faith is often born through scars, through the very marks of suffering and redemption.

In general terms, Thomas’ and the apostles’ story calls us to engage with our questions rather than silence them.  It is an invitation to remain present, to wrestle with doubt, but also to remain open to the moment when grace may break through.

And let me say this, addressing In particular the younger generations: “Today’s story teaches you to accept your doubts, your take, and your experience on your own terms.  For, as the Scripture shows us, there is no one answer fitting all questions.  As Jesus addressed Thomas’ reservations on his own terms, God will take care of whatever questions or reservations you may have on your own terms.”

For you as well as for us, such moments, as fleeting as a spark of light and yet as transformative as they may be, reinforce the essence of faith—a belief in what is unseen, yet profoundly felt, a trust in the divine even amidst human frailty.

So, this Easter Season invites us to look beyond the empty tomb and into our own hearts, where doubts and questions may find themselves as unwelcomed guests. 

This is one of the reasons why, through this Easter Season we are going to be using the Eucharistic Prayer A, and its call not only to embrace but to celebrate the “Mystery of Faith” – “Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.”

The Eucharistic Prayer A help us to remember that faith is not a static declaration but a living and even halting journey.  It is a recognition that doubt and belief are not adversaries but companions on the journey to spiritual growth and renewal.  

So, the words “Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again” are not to be interpreted just as a simple declaration but as a tapestry weaving together certainty and hope, the past, with the present and with the future.

For peace and inner joy will not grow out of having all our questions answered and having all the ducks of faith in a row. 

As we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, this peace will be both proclaimed and shared—a tangible reminder that grace is given freely, not earned through our own achievements.

The peace of which Jesus offers arises from a deep-seated assurance that God’s presence endures even in the midst of our doubts and fears.  It is a peace which does not demand answers to all questions, nor does it impose on us the burden of toeing the official line with unwavering conviction.

Instead, it invites us to rest in the mystery of faith, letting go of the need for perfect understanding.  It is a peace teaching us to dwell in the profound yet simple truth of God’s love.  A God who, in Jesus, is more than willing to embrace as we are, and not as we wish we were – or others expect us to be.

May the peace of the Risen Lord fill your life with the assurance of God’s love!

Fr. Gustavo