Doubt Swept Away – Reflection on John 20:19-31
Have you ever met a “doubting Thomas”? We come in many forms, but being a doubting Thomas does not mean we cannot deeply believe. For instance, I have a science background and respect history, engineering, and logic. These human attributes cause us to be like St. Thomas, needing to prove many things. Christ does not give up on us to be more. We are blessed with time and experiences to accumulate and become immersed in His deeper reality. A doubting Thomas is unique because we want to believe since our heads come before our hearts, yet our hearts win over. Looking back at constantly trying and slowly seeing and agreeing with the evidence makes us strong examples of God’s love. With doubt swept away, Jesus’s peace, love, and joy are in every breath we take.
The Disbelief of Saint Thomas by James Tissot (full-resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 20:19-31 – Scripture*
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 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.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 20:19-31 Reflection – Doubt Swept Away.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 20 passage.
This site follows the guidelines for image web use at the websites of the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: doubt swept away
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.