We have all experienced doubt about God’s existence, wondered about the creation story, and pondered over what we have learned about the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we have doubts about people we don’t know until we share common interests with them.
What about the existence of the other side of the world (and I don’t mean other planets)? We have no proof it exists. We hear stories, but no one we personally know has died and come back to tell us their experience. Yet, we believe this life is not the last, and we have greater expectations after this life because of faith.
And I bet no one will get into a helicopter built by someone who says, “I’ve never designed anything like this, but I think it will fly and land safely – let’s go.” Yet, we believe in Jesus and his invitation to come with him to a place prepared for us. By faith, we accept this invitation with great expectations.
That’s why I like Paul’s insight into faith in Jesus Christ. Paul never met Jesus and did not claim to have witnessed or understood everything Jesus taught. Yet because of the vision, or the mystery enfolded on the road to Damascus (when Jesus revealed himself to him), Paul had enough reason to believe in Jesus’ divinity. Paul writes the church in Corinth, “For now [at this moment] we [all believers] see only a reflection [of God/Jesus] dimly, as in a mirror, but then [in heaven/at the resurrection] we will see him face to face (1Corinthians 13:12). He is confessing that his knowledge of Christ is murky – as if seeing him through a mirror. In ancient times, mirrors were often made of polished metal, providing unclear reflections. So, he used the metaphor of seeing “as in a mirror dimly” to imply the imperfect and incomplete nature of our current perception or faith.
We believe by faith that Jesus lives, but that perception will be clearer when we see him in the flesh in heaven “face to face.” This verse encourages hope and reminds Christians that while this life may be uncertain, a time of perfect certainty awaits.
We all have “what if” moments, which I call “Faithful Doubt.” Wrestling with uncertainty as a believer is not totally bad; it pushes us to seek deeper understanding, grow spiritually, and reaffirm our beliefs. Even the most devout people throughout history have wrestled with questions and doubts; it’s part of being human. Admission of doubt means embodying a sincere and reflective or active faith.
I found a story to illustrate active faith: A tightrope walker crosses a deep canyon. The crowd watches in awe as he skillfully balances on the rope, carrying a wheelbarrow. After reaching the other side, they cheer and believe in him and his skillful act. He asks the audience, “Do you believe I can do it again?” They cheer and affirm he can. Then he asks, “Who will sit in the wheelbarrow while I cross?” Silence falls over the crowd.
The story highlights the difference between intellectual belief and active faith. While many people believed in the tightrope walker’s ability, none were willing to trust him with their lives. Active faith often requires us to move beyond mere acknowledgment and take a leap of trust, even when doubts linger. That’s what Christians have been doing for 2,000 centuries.
So, let’s revisit Apostle Thomas’ story. He believed in Jesus but needed tangible proof of his risen body in the flesh. When Jesus invited him to touch his wounds, Thomas’s faith transformed into a profound declaration of belief and confirmed, “My Lord and my God.”
Thomas held on to his virtues. He refused to say he understood what he did not understand or believe. The mirror was murky. When he was sure, when it became clear, he gave it all he had. His declaration highlights the transition from doubt or partial understanding to clarity and conviction. His response, “My Lord and my God” reminds us that faith often involves a journey from uncertainty to deeper understanding. When we are in doubt and open up to God, the Holy Spirit is there to help us with this transformation, as in Mark’s story about the father who approached Jesus on behalf of his afflicted child. He came to Jesus for a miracle healing, yet because of his past disappointments, he was weak in faith. So, when Jesus challenged/tested him with a question about his belief, he was honest. He returned the question to Jesus and said, ‘Help me to believe.’
The reading from Acts tells us that eventually, the disciples overcame their fear—the fear that had them hiding. Once they embraced the power of the Holy Spirit, it empowered them, and they went to the world to make the risen Christ known to all who listened.
Fear and unbelief are often subtle. They eventually drive us out of light into horrible darkness; fear can block the channels of faith and rob us of joy. But the gift of the Holy Spirit gives us energy and helps us to come out of darkness into the light. May our doubts and inactive faith be transformed into strength so that, like Thomas, we may see clearly and profess not only with our lips but in our hearts that Jesus Christ is our LORD AND OUR GOD, and HE IS RISEN INDEED! Alleluia!