Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Every 2nd Sunday of Easter, the Gospel gives us the figure of doubting Thomas to reflect on as the struggle of Thomas has so much to say about our own faith journey. Crucifixion ended all the hopes Thomas had pinned on Christ. It shattered his faith to the point where he made no attempt to hide his doubts. Nevertheless, Thomas does us all a favor in demanding proof of the resurrection. In actual fact, he is only echoing the doubts and voicing the uncertainties which darken our minds and cloud our faith from time to time, when dreams are crushed by an unexpected death, a broken relationship, or a serious illness.

The Gospel points out that faith does not always come easily. Sometimes believing is not a problem; at other times it can be a struggle against despair and a real challenge. At any rate, it is faith that makes life meaningful because it is the quest of the spirit searching for an encounter with God. It is worth remembering that the faith of the apostles was no overnight experience, but something gradual which increased as they became more intimate with Christ.

The same is true of our faith: it grows and deepens, provided we are more Christ-like in our daily living. The biggest obstacle to the spread of Christian faith today is not so much intellectual doubt as the unchristian lifestyle paraded by so many of us who regard ourselves as good Christians. We are very much citizens of this world, content to look on religion and worship of God as a Sunday obligation which has little or no relevance to the rest of the week. Half-hearted and lukewarm followers do untold damage to the cause of Christ.

The challenge of Thomas, for all who profess to believe, is to be more outgoing and to touch people in such a way as to bring hope and encouragement to their lives. By the witness of our own lives we produce the unfailing evidence that Christ is truly risen. We show the fruit of our faith in our care for the least of our sisters and brothers. In this way doubters will have their hearts and minds opened to see Christ, to touch His wounds and to be touched by Him in return. Like Thomas we are a strange mixture of belief and unbelief. Let's always pray: Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

May the Lord in His love and mercy bless you all.  

Sincerely Yours In Christ,

Fr. Burt Absalon,

Pastor