On the Uncertainty of Faith

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Jn. 20:29

As I reflected on today’s gospel, the story of Thomas’ doubt reminded me of something in the Sunday gospel that I chose to save for a later time. I wasn’t certain when I would actually get to it. However, when I saw today’s reading I realized a connection that I hadn’t previously considered.

Actually, today’s gospel and the portion of Sunday’s that I am considering are quite dissimilar. It is what brings them together that interests me. It arises from the Sunday narrative that while they were journeying to Jerusalem someone spoke up and said,” Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."

Over the many years of my Christian experience, these two passages have come to have a special significance. The narrative of Thomas’ doubt has for the most part served as a seasonal reminder of the physical reality of the risen Lord; however, 30 years earlier my interpretation of the passage centered on Thomas’ exclamation of the Lord’s divinity, “My Lord, and my God!”

However, it is the passage from Sunday’s readings that has stood out in my memory as a more enigmatic proclamation. At first, as a young reader, I wasn’t sure what to make of it although in more recent years I have interpreted the Lord’s words to mean “Do you realize what you are saying? What lies ahead will not be easy.” It is an interpretation that fits well with the “don’t look back” theme of Sunday’s message.

Late last week as I put the finishing touches on Sunday’s homily I realized that I would need to return to investigate the “I will follow you wherever you go” pericope. Something about it called to me to reflect deeper. In it I saw a proclamation of uncertainty, and in that it contained a message about the relation between faith and certainty. Suddenly the message was clear. Over and above my earlier interpretation I saw a second layer of meaning: “Where I am going is quite uncertain. To follow me wherever I go will take great faith.”

There is no way to know, but it could have been Thomas himself who said “I will follow you.” However, it also could have been any one of the disciples with their many occasions of doubt and failure of faith who said it. Regardless, to be told of the uncertainty that lies ahead and still to follow—to follow unswervingly—takes a much greater faith. Where there is uncertainty, faith becomes everything; however, the touchable, “sure things” in life, require only the affirmation of the senses. Due to being self-evident, certitude makes no demand of faith. (cf. Heb.11:1)

The true blessing is to believe without the evidence of certitude. Jesus saw the time coming when such faith would be necessary, and in this sense it is true that faith is what saves us. It is by faith, and only by faith, that we behold Jesus. Yet to the believing heart his presence permeates our world. Through the faith of uncertainty the reality of God is able to break in to our concrete world, thus we are able to participate in the sacramental economy of salvation.

Although the eyes of faith behold far greater realities than the surest of realities available to the senses, Jesus did not tell us that we would not have visible signs. The created and seen order does indeed have commerce with the unseen. Clearly the Lord gives Thomas the sign of certainty, yet Thomas held the divinity of Christ in his heart already and was thus able to proclaim it upon touching the Lord. Though a doubter, Thomas had tremendous faith based on what was not at all clear to everyone; namely, that Jesus is both Lord and God.

Faith leads us forward into the open-ended realm of possibility, and in its correlate of uncertainty it also calls for courage to move ahead into the unseen and intangible world of all our tomorrows. The promise that it holds is in the expectation of its fulfillment; that is, it is in the hope that looks toward the day when we shall see him face to face as he is.

Comments

[Anon.]

You've made some wonderful points here. I nodded when you said, "Clearly the Lord gives Thomas the sign of certainty, yet Thomas held the divinity of Christ in his heart already and was thus able to proclaim it upon touching the Lord." What a gift the Master gave Thomas. (Not even Peter touched the resurrected inside of Jesus!)

"Though a doubter, Thomas had tremendous faith based on what was not at all clear to everyone; namely, that Jesus is both Lord and God." Yes. Thomas is, after all, the one who said in resignation of following Someone he didn't understand, "Let us go up to die with Him."

I'm always a little antsy when Thomas is put down for his doubting. For Pete's sake, look what the Apostles were asked to believe even before the outpouring fiery help of the Holy Spirit! And, as you say, if not for Thomas' doubt, could we have heard, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing"?

I wish you'd develop this one day into an entire homily:
"Although the eyes of faith behold far greater realities than the surest of realities available to the senses, Jesus did not tell us that we would not have visible signs."

God bless you.

[Gabrielle]

Faith, and the "promise that it holds" being in the "expectation of its fulfillment" - this is perhaps what allows us to experience joy as Christians, despite the state of the world or personal troubles and challenges.