Stations of the Resurrection: Station 8: Thomas

Stations of the Resurrection

By

Raymond Chapman

Station 8

 Thomas

V         We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee

R.        Because by thy glorious Resurrection thou has given life to the world.

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 20:29)

Thomas was always the pessimist: not so much a skeptic or doubter as a man who could not believe the future held anything good. He would not accept the word of the other disciples, but insisted on personally seeing and touching the Risen Lord; but when he saw, his faith was great and he said, “ My Lord and my God!”

We give thanks for all the signs of Christ’s Resurrection: for the words of Scripture, for the faith of the Church through the ages, for every realization of Christ on our own lives. We give thanks that we have the promise of blessing on our faith: we do not judge by sight, but trust to see the Lord in his glory.

We are slow to believe; we demand to answer any questions that we choose to ask. Help us to know that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, and to hold fast to him in faith.

V         Christ is risen.

R         He is risen indeed.

V         Let us bless the Lord.

R         Thanks be to God.

No, Thomas. You never believed that all would be well. You are no coward, you loved Jesus in a dogged, despairing way, ready as you thought to go and die with him at Bethany when Lazarus was raised. On that last night together, you wanted to know exactly where he was going, to be shown the way without any question.

Why did you have to be the one who was absent when he came in his new life – of all who would not hope for this last and greatest miracle? Was it the purpose that you should go through another week, seven whole days of doubt and sorrow to test your faith and bring the most splendid affirmation?

Ten of them were content to see and believe, but you demanded more, to touch and feel the dreadful wounds. You goy your wish, because may take us at our word and give us more than we expected, more than we really desired. Those marks of suffering showed that this was no ghost, no clever resuscitation – this was something beyond experience or dreams.

You had your part to play, a great part. You made the confession of divinity that silences all argument, bringing a blessing on every generation of believers, through they too might be often anxious and uncertain.

What is my part, insecure and doubting as I too often am?

Lord, you were very patient with Thomas. And made him at last a a man of hope and trust.

Be patient with me, when I doubt and hesitate because the good news seems to too good to be true. Lord. I believe: help my unbelief.