“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” John 20:29

 We’ve all heard the term “Doubting Thomas”. In the Gospel of John on the Second Sunday of Easter, the apostles are in the room with the doors locked for fear of being arrested for following Jesus. Jesus appeared to them and breathed the Holy Spirit into them.

One apostle, Thomas, was not present when Jesus appeared. When the other disciples told Thomas that Jesus appeared to them, Thomas did not believe them. 

A Franciscan Friar once told me that Faith is believing in those things you cannot see or touch. Did Thomas not have faith?

Jesus appeared a second time when Thomas was present and Jesus told Thomas to put his fingers in the holes in his hands and into his pierced side. Thomas then came to believe.

Every time I hear or read this part of John’s gospel, I ask myself, do I have faith? Do I believe in those things I cannot see or touch?

Jesus is our savior. He died a terrible death for us and was resurrected on Easter Sunday to save us and because he loves us. Don’t be a doubting Thomas. Have faith, believe in Jesus, and look at the beauty around us and know that Jesus loves us and is with us always. We can see it in the trees and flowers blooming, the birds singing, and the people we encounter every day. Faith is believing in things we can’t see or touch but we can see Jesus in everything around us. Take a moment to look around and believe!