Jesus and Thomas

Gospel: John 20: 24-29

Thomas would not believe the women when they said they encountered the Risen Jesus at the tomb.  He would not believe the other apostles and the two men from Emmaus who all saw Jesus too.  So emphatic was his disbelief that he stated that he would not believe at all until he saw Jesus for himself, and examined the wounds personally.  We know many people like Thomas - we may have been there ourselves - where we needed to see for ourselves; no one's word was good enough.

But Jesus comes to meet Thomas where he is at.  He provides what Thomas needs in order to believe.  We might consider this patience and posture of Jesus as we look at our own ministry to other people.  So often we tell people that what they have been given is enough when it clearly is not.  We have to be like Jesus and go the extra mile, to provide what people need so that they might believe and live a life of love and mercy.

And ultimately it is our own living of love and mercy, the way of the Beatitudes, that will be that extra mile to walk in order to win people over.  It does not come in apologetics or in arguing with people in cafes or social media.  It does not come in waging culture wars or campaigns or programs.  It comes only when we go beyond the commandments to the Beatitudes, only when we extend the same love and mercy to others as has been shown to us.  This is what won Thomas; this is what won us; this is what will win the world.