Journey of Faith

If you are in Church this morning – or reading this online - it is likely that you are on a journey of faith. And like most journeys, the journey of faith can have exciting times, quieter times and challenging times. Our gospel (good news) today starts in a strange place following the excitement of last week’s resurrection. In last week’s gospel Mary announced, ‘she had seen the Lord’, but now in contrast, the disciples gather behind locked doors ‘for fear of the Jews’. There was excitement on Easter morning, Jesus was alive, but now there is doubt, uncertainty and fear. This is a picture of our own faith journeys – we are not always confident but sometimes fearful and full of doubt. Yet despite the locked room - ‘Jesus came and stood among them, saying ‘Peace be with you’. He showed them his hands and side – evidence it was him, he had been crucified, but was now resurrected, and they believed. He breathed on them: ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ – the same Holy Spirit that we too receive in baptism – the Holy Spirit who comforts us and empowers us for Christian living.

The disciples journey started with fear but ends with faith and confidence. We see this confidence in our Acts reading (Acts 5:27-32). The authorities: ‘gave the disciples strict orders not to teach in Jesus’ name. But they responded, ‘we must obey God rather than human authority. We witness to these things through the Holy Spirit’. This was the faith journey of the disciples. From doubt and fear to belief that Jesus was resurrected. Then, having received the Holy Spirit, to confidence in living and witnessing to the risen Christ. Yet not all the disciples were in that upper room. One of the most prominent people in today’s gospel wasn’t there. When Thomas was told by the others ‘we have seen the Lord’, he responded ‘I need to see it for myself’. ‘Doubting Thomas doubts’ saying, ‘unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my hand in his side, I will not believe’.

We often give Thomas a hard time, but this was a huge claim – and Thomas was struggling to get his head around it. Yet God was gracious and in V26 we read, ‘a week later the disciples were in the house and Thomas was with them, and although the doors were shut Jesus came and stood among them’, saying ‘put your finger here and see my hands, reach out your hand and put it in my side’. Do not doubt but believe’. From fear and doubt to encounter with Jesus, and faith. Thomas responds, ‘my Lord and my God’. Christian tradition has Thomas later going to India – this is a St Thomas’ cross – given to me by some Indian friends now worshipping at St Mary’s. Thomas’ journey of faith was from doubt to belief to witness, and practically, all the way to India. John’s gospel ends by saying that many other signs were given so people might believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that through believing, they might have life in his name.

This is our Christian journey that began on Easter morning and continues today. It is a journey that included a boy from a refugee family, born in Argentina in 1936, and who was buried just yesterday in Rome (formerly Jorge Bergoglio, chemical technician, club bouncer, latterly Pope Francis). Last week he preached a sermon - saying cling to Christ, and, ‘in you Lord, everything is new, everything begins again’. This is the journey of believers in Jesus, it can be your journey. John’s gospel reassures that we too can come to know this life and these new beginnings in the name of Jesus. In the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen