By Shanborlang Mawrie csc –
Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Rev 1: 9-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31
Today, we celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a special day for all of us to remember the gift of mercy, which God reveals to us through Jesus Christ. The mercy of Jesus reaches us in the midst of our miseries and problems.
For me personally, Thomas’ doubting and believing are two sides of the same coin. Doubting and believing are part of a journey to reach authentic faith. More than the doubt, Thomas trusts in his personal experience of the risen Christ.
This is revealed through his stubbornness which came out of his love for Jesus by saying ‘unless I see and put my finger I will not believe.’ This shows his authentic desire to meet Jesus. And this lets Jesus grant the desire of his heart by making Thomas to confess “My Lord and my God.” This is one of the greatest confessions of faith.
When I encounter struggles and problems in life, I am tempted to doubt the presence of Jesus within me. Sometimes I question myself, if Jesus is with us, why are the innocent people suffering? Why are they fighting and killing each other in this world?
St. Thomas is a weak and fragile being with doubt. As I am growing in this world of uncertainty and doubt, I try to reason out everything. Jesus never leaves me, he reveals his mercy through many events and shows his love, care, and concern through various people.
Sometimes, instead of believing I try to trust in myself, my efforts, and skills. Today Thomas is teaching me to have that stubbornness of heart to experience Christ and believe in him. Not because I am better or greater than others, but because God is of mercy who looks with love to those who seek him with faith. He will work wonders through us in this world as we see in the lives of the apostles.