Faith is an incredible gift. It is a wonderful, enigmatic, supernatural experience that is only available during our time on this Earth. And it is also strange and difficult.

In this passage, the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples and shows some proof to the previous uncertain Thomas. To his credit, Thomas does not try to bend reality to simplify the narrative. He sees what he sees. Even that is difficult for many of us. As soon as he is proven wrong, he calls Jesus Lord.

Jesus points out that Thomas’ belief is based on sight. Proof. And gives the rest of us a charge: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

What a tall order! What an incredible suggestion!

It flies in the face of everything our world holds dear – certainty. Control. Just to name a couple.But this is the great opportunity we face everyday. To believe even when we do not see. To trust even when we cannot understand. Faith is not about making sense of the world around us. It is about trusting beyond our senses. It is about acknowledging the presence and the reality of Christ and His Kingdom through all arenas and circumstances, even (maybe especially) the confusing and enigmatic ones.

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
– John 20:27-29