October 26, 2003
The Age of Doubting Thomas
As everyone can testify, we’re living in the age of reason. Rational though triumphs everything – science is the new god of truth and knowledge. After all, it isn’t real if it cannot be scientifically proven, right? Someone said to me the other day, “If only we lived in a world where miracles happened all the time, where whales swallowed people, blindness could be cured, and fire lowered slowly onto the heads of the faithful.” This is an interesting sentiment. What should be the reply?
Actually, we are not living in the age of reason. We’re living in the age of miracles. My reply, “I have a different point of view. I believe more miracles happen now, it’s just difficult to step back and realize it when you’re in the middle of everything. For example, every week at Mass bread turns into the flesh of God. In addition, we have the Mother of God appearing on earth; bodies being found that haven’t decomposed through hundreds of years; a small woman performing miracles to the poorest poor on earth.”
Despite the intelligentsia pushing an analytical mindset that ignores the spiritual realm, we are living in an age with more incredible miracles than any other time on earth. We have the power of the Eucharist and supernatural prayers like the Rosary to lead us. This is far from an age that will be characterized by scientific fact and reason, this age will be known as the Age of Miracles for that is more accurate.
In daily life we often ascribe miraculous events to “good fortune” (luck) or the inevitable. This is a mistake. Take the time to realize what God is doing for you, even during the humdrum activities that are necessary to life. It’s often as simple as a protestant friend asking the right question that leads to a discussion of Christ. Or the flat tire that seems terrible but really saves you from being in a terrible accident five miles up the road. I’ve heard the suggestion that we will never realize the miraculous events in our lives until we look back from heaven. While this may be true, we should take the time to examine the ordinary and understand some of the miracles God does for each of us. In other words, don’t be so quick to assume that luck is at work – it’s probably another small miracle in your life.
Jay
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During the Exodus there were plenty of miracles to be seen, but this did not prevent them from falling into disobedience and idol worship. Even if the world came with a giant tag that said "Made by God", people would still fall. Some angels with perfect intellect and knowledge about God still fell into pride.
There are many if onlies expressed by people. If only I saw a miracle. If only I was alive during Jesus' time. The great miracle of the Eucharist is there for us all, but it is sadly ignored and signs in tree trunks are looked for instead.
Posted by: Jeff Miller at October 27, 2003 07:20 PMGood point, Jeff. Ultimately belief in God is not a intellectual issue, it's a moral issue. Atheism is a moral problem that can't be removed by facts and examples.
Only the Holy Spirit can bring about Faith.
Jay
Posted by: Jay at October 27, 2003 09:26 PMso as an atheist, i have a moral problem? what exactly is the "problem" with my morals? this essay is well-written, but why are you so eager to dismiss intellectualism and science?
Posted by: rikki at September 6, 2004 09:44 PMRikki,
My point is that those who choose Atheism typically do it for a moral reason, rather than an intellectual one. Atheism allows one to be amoral without worrying about the consequences, whereas to believe in a God puts the burden on the believer.
One question: where did our universe come from, if not from God?
God bless,
Jay
I was just pondering how the Bible might be able to help me with my "doubting Thomas" personality. Whenever something is good in my life (hardly ever) I can't belive it, so I start doubting it's sincerity, and then in having doubted it, ultimately end up destroying it.
I have recently risked a great deal by being a "doubting Thomas". I almost lost the thing I love most in all the world. I need to find faith - not necessarily in God - but in the things and the people around me. Are their any chapters of the Bible that would help me change the way I doubt everything ?
Em,
I would encourage you to re-read the Gospel of John and pay particular attention to "doubting Thomas". He is in many many ways a positive role model for those of us who have difficulty believing good things. I spent many years being criticized for being a "doubting Thomas" and have slowly learned that the Gospel of John contains a powerful story of how God can redeem people's character flaws and turn them into strength.
In John 11, Thomas believes that Jesus and the disciples who go with him to visit Lazarus will all die. And yet what does he do with this erroneous conviction of impending doom? He decides to follow the Lord anyway! Whatever flaws we may find in Thomas, we must remember that he is a man whose loyalty to his Lord was stronger than his fear of death. Those of us who are prone to imagine the worst will come can use Thomas as an example and turn our flaw into an opportunity to renew our resolve to act rightly no matter how frightening the possible outcomes may appear. While today's movies always make fun of the "worry wart" (like the completely useless giraffe in Madagascar) - there was a time when stories attempted to show good in everyone especially those who appeared odd. For example, in the Silver Chair by CS Lewis, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle is always fearing the worst but he never lets his fears stop him from fulfilling his committments to the children under his care (though he gets a little burnt in the process).
When we read John 20, and Thomas' most infamous line: Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it, we must not let his failure blind us to the beauty that follows in the next few verses.
First, we must consider Our Lord's response to "doubting Thomas". Our Lord loved Thomas enough to return a second time and even offered Thomas what he asked for. If the doubts of Thomas did not stop Our Lord from helping him, then our doubts will not stop Our Lord from helping us.
Second, we must also take note of Thomas' response to the appearance of Our Lord to him. Does verse 28 say "and so Thomas placed his hand in the side of Jesus"? No, Thomas exclaims "My Lord and my God!" - In the end it was not forensic evidence that brought Thomas from his position of doubt to his position of unwavering loyalty. It was a personal and intimate encounter with Jesus that redeemed Thomas along with his character flaws.
While we will probably not be invited to place our hands in the side of Jesus, we must remember that Thomas realized at the last moment he did not need to do so. Neither do we. Like Thomas, what we really need is a personal and intimate encounter with Jesus. We can receive this in prayer, through Scripture reading, and by partaking in the Sacraments of the Church. John 20:29 promises blessing to those who seek a personal and intimate encounter with Jesus even though they might not actually see the Lord until he comes again in glory.
One final thought for all the doubting Thomases: Doubting Thomas is a Saint too!
Posted by: Burnt Marshwiggle at January 9, 2008 01:03 AM
