The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."
Besides St. Thomas, many biblical figures and saints experienced significant doubts or periods of deep spiritual darkness, including the apostles who doubted the resurrection, St. Augustine, and Mother Teresa. Peter doubted while walking on water, and Sarah, Moses, and John the Baptist questioned God’s path, demonstrating that faith journeys often involve uncertainty.
REFLECTION
"Peace be with you."
The disciples are still shaken, confused and afraid. They were disoriented, unable to understand what had happened and fearful for their safety. After all, Jesus was crucified. The story of how Jesus appeared to the two disciples was hard to believe. They struggled to believe that account. And now He appears in their midst, recent wounds, and asking to eat.
We are much like the disciples. We think we would act differently and believe immediately but doubt because we would have many questions, still clinging to our past human experiences and not to what we are actually seeing.
It is wonderful how God moves in our lives, not rebuking us harshly, but instead meets us in our fears, impatience, fears and doubts. He gives us what we need to believe. He comes into our imperfect lives and strengthens our faith. And He opens our minds to the Scriptures and His Will.
We have the saints to show us that we are not alone when we doubt, worry or fear. St Peter doubted when walking on the sea, St Thomas doubted the risen Christ, St Augustine doubted both intellectually and spiritually before his conversion, St Teresa of Calcutta doubted the presence of God in her daily life.
God is with us all the time. When St. Catherine of Siena was going through a long period of spiritual dryness and temptation, she cried out, “Where have You been, Lord? I have been having terrible thoughts and feelings.” She heard God answer her, “Catherine, I have been in your heart all this time. It was I who was giving you courage and strength to keep going each day!” God was with Catherine all the time — and, if you’re truly searching for Him, He will be with you. (Fr. Esper’s book, Saintly Solutions to Life's Common Problems)
Comments