There is a level at which we might all feel threatened by those who dare to ask questions. When we have been entrusted with a position of responsibility, one that calls for decision making, we might feel threatened - for instance - by those who dare to question the authenticity of the decisions we make.
Questioning authenticity was the issue at hand for Thomas, one of the twelve who was otherwise occupied on the evening when the risen Jesus appeared to the rest of his friends. Rather than having the reassurance of encountering the risen Lord, Thomas was left in his grief, and his response to the proclamation made by the other disciples demonstrates this to be true: Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe (Jn 20:25).
If we have found ourselves walking in Thomas' shoes, perhaps we understand what it was like to feel excluded from the experience that the other disciples had when the risen Jesus appeared to them. If we have experienced others who question our decisions, perhaps we can understand the fragility in which the disciples found themselves during those initial days following the resurrection, but if we have heard the Lord speaking to us as he spoke to Thomas: doubt no more, but believe (Jn 20:27), then we can rejoice, for we have a certain understanding of the way Jesus calls us to grow in our faith.
Have a great day.
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