From the darkness of doubt to the light of faith

 In Caravaggio's painting of this encounter between Thomas and Jesus, we see how Thomas is drawn from the darkness of doubt into the light of faith. The intensity of this encounter can often raise questions for us about why Thomas was not with the disciples in this first encounter with the risen Christ. Yet it is not about who was there and who was not. Jesus makes the same proclamation when he says peace be with you. The drama of the scene is often not lost on me as I notice that the invitation to put your hand into the side of Jesus is to touch the living heart of Jesus. This most intimate of encounters touches our own reality, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday. We are not called to faith in the abstract events of daily life but to learning to be agents of forgiveness. This is the recognition that when we celebrate the sacrament of penance, it is not just about cleaning up our own sins but about adapting the forgiving nature of Christ. This profound shift is what we pray in the Our Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

As we enter this Easter season, there is also a call to recognise that, as a Christian community proclaiming the Catholic faith, we should notice how our actions mirror those of the first community.

·      Being faithful to the teaching of the apostles

·      Gathering in common

·      Sharing in the Eucharist

·      Becoming a people of prayer

·      Sharing generously with others

This allows us to become a people of faith that acknowledges that our faith is to be proclaimed to the world in which we live through the community we are.

We can see glimpses of this in how we engage in our own communities of faith. We celebrate how, as a faith community, we have gathered together as a Church. This is an important foundation where we acknowledge the many ways that Christ has touched our own lives and how we share that with each other. I also know that many of you have shared your reflections through our prayer, study and action on how we build on these foundations. What is central are the words we hear where we are encouraged by the words of St Peter, “You did not see him yet you love him; and still without seeing him you are already filled with joy so glorious that it can not be described, as you look forward to the salvation of your souls.”

As people of faith, we too are called to move from our fears, doubts, and anxieties, which can be present in our own lives, into the light of faith. This is not to make light of our daily struggles but to know that Jesus will meet us there, both as individuals and as a community gathered in faith. As we journey together through this Easter, may the Risen Lord meet us along the way and encourage us to open our hearts to His most divine heart of mercy. May his life transform our own as we seek to become missionary disciples for our own age.