RBWords

     I like to think of the Gospel According to John as the "gospel of drama."  Every encounter seems to be like a mini-drama in which someone who encounters Jesus is challenged to move from doubt to belief.  It doesn't always happen, as in the case of the crippled beggar or Pilate, but Nicodemus, the Royal Official, the Samaritan Woman, the Man Born Blind and Thomas are all examples of what I'm talking about.  Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas, who earned the title of "Doubting Thomas" because he doubted the account of the other disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.  When Jesus shows himself to Thomas, the latter makes the wonderful profession of faith, "My Lord and my God."  It is truly a dramatic moment, but the drama has a purpose.

      Jesus (and the evangelist) speaks to all of us as being blessed because we have not been able to have Thomas' experience, but we still believe in the apostles' witness to Jesus' resurrection.  It is that witness and not a particular "sign" that brings us to faith.  In the case of the Royal Official, it was his faith in what Jesus said about the sick child that begins the process of coming to faith.  The sign of the healing completed the process.  The scene with Thomas reminds us of the importance of accepting the witness of the apostles, on whose faith the Church stands.  AMEN