Read: John 20:24-29
Some of the decisions we make in life come easily and others are hard work. Some judgements require evidence but others are instinctive. All of us will be used to the variety of choices we must make: the road to take, food to eat, things to read or clothes to wear are mundane examples. There are more significant turning points in life that could be life changing like those affecting relationships.
Today is the Saints Day of Saint Thomas, the Apostle. We may know him better, and slightly harshly by his nickname, Doubting Thomas. I have heard preachers turning Thomas into a villain because he said he needed to see and touch the wounds of Jesus before he could believe that he had appeared. Thomas was not up for taking the word of his friends and colleagues who said they had seen Jesus when Thomas was absent from the group.
Does that make Thomas a villain? We have all been wound up by our friends and so we have learned the hard way that we should not take everything we are told at face value. In the emotional state prevailing after the shock of the crucifixion it is easy to see someone breaking the tension with a wind up, so cut Thomas some slack.
Are the other disciples heroes because they believed; well no, they had seen Jesus appear and started off afraid before he calmed them down. Another normal and understandable response.
Jesus credits Thomas with blessing for his belief after seeing the wounds. His aside, that those who can believe without seeing are truly blessed is different from criticising Thomas. It says that the real heroes of faith are those who are so sure of God that they find belief instinctive.
A prayer
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Amen.