The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio
Jesus and Thomas
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
John 20:24-29
In his sermon today, my rector reminded us that even as Thomas demonstrated his unbelief when the other disciples told him of seeing Jesus, upon Jesus' second appearance, Thomas made a deeply profound declaration of faith as he said, "My Lord and my God."
It seems to me that if we claim to be people of faith, we must (if we are honest with ourselves) accept that, like Thomas, faith and doubt exist side by side within each one of us.
Do click on the picture and get the larger view. It's so beautiful.
Another Caravaggio!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mimi.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteYou're so classy...
clumber
Allen, I love Caravaggio's paintings. I tend to favor the religious subjects. Both Caravaggio and Rembrandt take my breath away with the light and shade contrasts in their paintings.
ReplyDeleteClumber, thanks, you old dog.
Santo Tómas is called "Tomás el Incrédulo" en español.
ReplyDelete"faith and doubt exist side by side within each one of us"
ReplyDeleteOur seminarian brought this up today in her sermon...
Love Caravaggio! Thanks Mimi.
ReplyDeleteIn yesterday's Foreword Movement reflection on the lectionary, it talked about the gift of faith, and sort of faking it until you make it. Faith is something you can't wait to hit you in the head as it falls from the sky. Faith is a gift of grace, and like other gifts, you have to reach out to recieve it.
This image was very helpful to me, as you know, I struggle with certain concepts.
It's comforting to know that if one of Jesus' beloved twelve had doubts, and he was there, that it's ok to struggle with doubt 2000+ years later, when we haven't had the benefit of being there, and seeing Jesus first hand.
Reaching out to receive the gift of faith - I like that very much.
Incrédulo - I like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mimi!
"Tomás el Incrédulo". I like that.
ReplyDeleteGod knows I'm no theologian, but, to me, faith is much more than intellectual assent, although it is that, too. It's about "being" in Christ. It's about a relationship. Is that too airy-fairy?
I stumble over the words in trying to express certain matters of faith.
The truth is that figures like Thomas and Peter, the denier, encourage and inspire me, because they were so obviously imperfect human beings, and yet Jesus loved them anyway.
Mimi--the rector in my former parish said in one of her sermons that we could all take some comfort in the fact that we were counted among the blessed who had NOT seen and had believed anyway.
ReplyDeleteI hang on to that sometimes---that Thomas, who had every reason to believe that Jesus was extraordinary in some way, was a sceptic. And here I am, 2000 years and thousands of miles away, drawn to church every Sunday by some force I don't even understand.
My intellectual doubts about Christianity will always haunt me---but I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I have been blessed by Christ.
And my rector pointed out that, while Thomas is known as the Doubter, the rest of the disciples (at the meeting Thomas missed) didn't recognize Jesus either except for the inspection of wounds. So how was Thomas really different?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I favor those who recognized him in the breaking of the bread. ;o)
ReplyDeleteAnd my rector pointed out that, while Thomas is known as the Doubter, the rest of the disciples (at the meeting Thomas missed) didn't recognize Jesus either except for the inspection of wounds. So how was Thomas really different?
ReplyDeleteOur vicar believes Thomas gets a bad rap from the Church, precisely for that reason. He wasn't any more or less doubtful, he just got to the pary late.
And, Wormwood's Doxy, permit me to include myself in your company. I've come back to Christianity after a long time away. Those same nagging intellectual doubts stick with me. Perhaps if I feel less lazy, I'll post about the journey on my own blog.
Mimi, if you don't hear it often enough, you're a treasure.
Above, "pary" should read "party".
ReplyDelete[stumbles off to procure coffee]
Oh Geor3ge, your kind words will go to my head, I shall be guilty of the first and the greatest of the deadly sins.
ReplyDeleteTell your story. We southerners love stories.
Mimi- Pardon my blogwhoring, but, you've inspired me to write a post on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI did not preach this week but was thinking about the lessons so blogged it. Also a separate comment on Jackie Robinson and the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything.
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